How Booker, Durant led the Suns win against Nuggets
NBA Analytics NetworkDevin Booker continued his impressive playoff run for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 36.9 poin…
Devin Booker continued his impressive playoff run for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 36.9 points, 6.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds in eight games. With the need to avoid falling 3–0 in Game 3, Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 86 points to defeat the Denver Nuggets, 121–114. Booker scored 47 points, while Durant added 39.
“It’s all I know, this is all I dreamed of as a kid,” said Booker. “I devoted much of my life, moving away from my family when I was young, to be in these moments.”
Booker put in a very efficient performance, shooting 20–25 from the floor and 5–8 from outside the arc. Durant was quite impressive in his own right, as he finished 12–31 overall and was 14–16 on free throws.
“They knew what we had to do to win this game,” said Suns coach Monty Williams.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns & Denver Nuggets Updates
After the Nuggets recovered from a 15-point halftime deficit, the Suns led 90–88 going into the fourth quarter. Soon after, a Durant fast-break dunk capped a 9–0 run to give Phoenix a 99–88 lead and they were not trailing going into the final period. After starting the game shooting 1–9, Durant found key rhythm — shooting 11–22 the rest of the way.
“It’s frustrating not to take pictures because that’s what I get paid to do,” said Durant. “But there also comes a time when you just have to figure it out and get through it.”
Nikola Jokic did everything he could to give the Nuggets a chance after 30 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds. Jamal Murray dropped 32 points, while Michael Porter Jr. 21 points and 12 rebounds. Murray felt he could have done more late in the game.
“I looked good at the end of the game and that would have kept us there,” said Murray. “I feel like they pulled out because of that. I need to be more locked in, more relaxed on the stretch.
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Nuggets coach Michael Malone called the team’s defensive execution against Booker “unacceptable”. Booker had no trouble getting to the edge or attacking downhill for close-range pull-ups. He could play his game too easily.
“I didn’t study math, but that’s a really high percentage,” Malone said. “We have to do much better.”
The Suns relied on Cameron Payne to fill in for the injured Chris Paul. While he didn’t completely replace Paul’s usual production, Payne scored seven runs, including a timely three-pointer early in the fourth inning. Phoenix also made the adjustment to play Terrence Ross, Jock Landale and TJ Warren for more minutes.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns & Denver Nuggets Updates
Each of them made some important plays, as Landale scored six points and nine rebounds, even closing the game with Deandre Ayton on the bench. Warren also scored a few timely buckets towards the end of regulation.
“That’s life,” Booker said of Ayton not finishing the match. “We’ve been around long enough to understand that not every night will be your night. It does other things to make up for it. … Energy and effort should always be high, especially around this time. You can’t get confused, you can’t get into your own head. I saw that a little bit with him today, so it’s my job to pump him up.”
On Sunday, The Suns and Nuggets face each other in Game 4.
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