Do the Denver Nuggets have enough star power to beat the Phoenix Suns?
Denver has its star in Nikola Jokic, but does it have enough of a supporting cast in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to defeat Kevin Durant and the Suns?
Sports Pulse, Sports Pulse
May is off to a solid start for the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns, 97-87, to take a 2-0 lead in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored a game-high 39 points and had 16 rebounds in a dominant performance.
Suns shooting guard Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points and Kevin Durant had 24 points in the loss.
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The Nuggets have a 2-0 advantage in the best of seven semifinal series. Here are the takeaways from the Western Conference tilt:
Nikola Jokic carries Denver to win
The Suns had a two-point lead at halftime. The main reason why the game was close was due to Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets needed the two-time MVP to carrying the scoring load Monday. Jokic scored most of the big baskets for Denver. He had 13 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 39 points and 16 rebounds. He was the best player on the court and hit most of the timely shots for Denver.
Deandre Ayton, Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale all took turns guarding Jokic, but they had a tough time containing him.
Nuggets pull away in fourth quarter
The Nuggets outscored the Suns 27-14 in the fourth quarter.
Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit three 3s in the final quarter to help Denver get some breathing room. While the Suns offense got cold.
The Nuggets shot 9 for 15 in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 60% field goal percentage. Denver held the Suns to 28% shooting in the fourth quarter. Booker was 2-for-8 shooting and Durant was 4-for-10 from the floor in the final quarter.
The Suns’ two stars didn’t have enough to overtake Denver.
Chris Paul exits in second half
Chris Paul left the game with over four minutes to go in the third quarter. The veteran point guard was seen grabbing his groin area as he exited the court. He was ruled out by the Suns in the fourth quarter with left groin tightness.
Jamal Murray has rough night
Murray had a game-high 34 points in Denver’s Game 1 win. In Game 2, he was about as cold as a Denver winter night.
Murray had just four points on 1-for-10 shooting entering the fourth quarter. He hit a couple of big baskets in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets pulled away.
The Nuggets guard finished with just 10 points. He was 3 for 15 from the floor.
Physical Game 2
The officials let both teams play a little bit and the physicality ramped up.
Devin Booker and Bruce Brown got in a heated exchange and had to be separated late in the fourth quarter.
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2023-05-02 05:35:44Z
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