Phoenix Suns tie the series with Denver Nuggets as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker shine
Phoenix Suns tie the series with Denver Nuggets as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker shine with 36-point displays – despite Nikola Jokic firing 53 himself in a gripping playoff game
Devin Booker had 36 points and 12 assists, Kevin Durant also scored 36 points, and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Denver Nuggets 129-124 on Sunday to tie their Western Conference semifinal playoff series at two games apiece.
Backup guard Landry Shamet made four crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep the Suns ahead. Denver lost despite a huge game to MVP runner-up Nikola Jokic, who racked up 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting.
Jokic used his physical play to knock down several big buckets and even snatch the ball away from Suns owner Mat Ishbia at one point after the ball went out of bounds, earning the Nuggets All-Star a technical foul.
The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Suns took a 98-92 lead in the fourth quarter on a scoring surge from Booker, who had 17 points in the third. Phoenix wouldn’t be left behind in the fourth, though Denver didn’t go quiet.
Kevin Durant (pictured) and Devin Booker each put up 36 points as the Suns beat the Nuggets
The Phoenix team’s two star players showed up on Sunday night to tie the series
Nikola Jokic scored 53 points for Nuggets, but was still on the losing side at the end of the night
Booker and the Suns trailed 10 points with less than five minutes to go, but remained calm
The Nuggets trailed 116-106 with 4:55 left, but never panicked and slowly cut into the lead. They came in 123-120 with 22.4 seconds left, but TJ Warren made two free throws to narrow the margin to five.
Booker – averaging 36 points on 60% shooting in these playoffs – was hot again, shooting 14 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. Shamet finished with 19 points and shot 5 of 8 on 3s.
Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists for the Nuggets.
Sun’s point guard Chris Paul missed his second straight game with a strained left groin he suffered during Game 2.
The Suns took a 63-61 lead at halftime. Jokic had 24 points for the Nuggets before halftime, while Durant had 21 for the Suns.
Jokic got a technical foul in the second inning after a bizarre altercation with Ishbia.
Late in the period, Suns guard Josh Okogie crashed into the chairs while trying to save a loose ball. He landed in a group of fans at the baseline, including Ishbia, who took the basketball.
Jokic was trying to get hold of the basketball quickly—apparently so the Nuggets could begin their offensive possession—when he tried to get the ball away from Ishbia.
The ball flew backwards into the crowd, and then Ishbia was knocked back by Jokic’s elbow.
There were a few minutes of confusion as the officials sorted out the weird scene, after which Jokic received a technical foul.
Jokic (left) received a technical foul after appearing to push Suns owner Matt Ishbia
Sunday’s game with the Suns and the Nuggets in Phoenix was a thriller as the series tied
Ishbia told The Associated Press at halftime that he was “fine” and was more concerned about the play than the altercation. In the second half he was back in his familiar place.
Suns center Deandre Ayton was the subject of media and fan scorn following his subpar performance in Game 3.
Ayton only had four points and nine rebounds in Game 3 and the former No. 1 overall pick was benched in favor of Jock Landale in the fourth quarter.
But the big man got the fans back on his side on the first offensive possession of the night, grabbing three consecutive offensive rebounds before Booker hit a short jumper as the crowd roared.
Ayton finished with eight points and eight rebounds.