In the second half of the Denver Nuggets game against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals, big Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 97-87 thanks to his 39 points and 16 rebounds.
Jokic leads the Nuggets to another playoff victory against the Suns
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 97-87 on Monday, securing another victory in the Western Conference semi-finals. Giant Nikola Jokic scored 39 points and collected 16 rebounds. The Nuggets have a 2-0 lead against the Suns in the best-of-seven series.
Aaron Gordon provided 16 points to the victory, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 14 points and nailed four three-pointers without missing a shot, and Jamal Murray scored 10 points and distributed eight assists.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points, while Kevin Durant contributed 24 points, but the squad was hampered by Chris Paul's thigh injury in the third quarter. In 25 minutes, Paul had eight points and six assists. On Friday, the third game of the series will be played in Phoenix.
The Nuggets won the opening contest
The Suns had a lead of three points on the morning of the fourth quarter, but Denver took advantage and won 78- 73 courtesy of two three-pointers from Caldwell-Pope and a close-range muumuu from Murray.
Before continuing their dominance, the Nuggets won the first game, 125- 107." I love the aggressive Nikola Jokic," said Nuggets trainer Michael Malone after Jokic hit 17 shots, equal Jamal Murray and Michael Porter., who also missed 17 of 22.
" Nicola is an excellent player for a reason," remarked Malone." He has the skill to take command of the game." He has several ways to master you. I appreciate the player who gets to the handbasket and dominates the opposition team. And, dude, 14 points for this platoon, 28 from the field, 0- for 9 on three attempts in the fourth quarter?"
Jokic dominated the night before he knew it, defeating Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo to win his third straight NBA MVP award, which was recently renamed the Michael Jordan Award. "I can't think of that," Jokic replied. Malone believes this is due to Jokic's desire to lead the Nuggets to their first NBA championship rather than earn more MVPs.
The Nuggets take the lead in the last frame
We will be happy for him if he succeeds for the third time in a row." Only many NBA players have done that," Malone explained." I will give him a clinch and tell him he is the stylish player in my opinion indeed if he does not win."
The Suns led by 10 points 48 hours after Murray was penalized for a foul on 34, but they couldn't stop Jokic. Durant explained, "Murray dragged it down a little bit." "He won the first game." But Jokic had gone too far. We probably got them up to 97 points. That would normally be a victory for us."
Murray shot 3-for-15 and missed all nine three-point tries after making six of ten in the previous game, while Porter chipped in with five points on 2-for-7 shooting. Aaron Gordon had 16 points, Kentavious Caldwell Pope had 14 points, and the Nuggets shot 4-for-4 from outside the arc, including back-to-back swishes that enabled the Nuggets to overcome a 73-70 deficit and seize the lead early in the fourth quarter.
