The Denver Nuggets have a comfortable 2-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals after beating them 97-87 at home on Monday.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic had a game-high 39 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists in the win.
Phoenix’s Devin Booker had 35 points, six assists and five rebounds in the loss. Kevin Durant had 24 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
The audience in the Ball Arena chanted “Nuggets in 4” towards the end of the game, referring to the fight that broke out in the crowd last year when a Suns fan ended the scuffle by saying the phrase “Suns in 4.” before Phoenix swept Denver in the same round.
Suns down at 12 with under two minutes to play
Phoenix is ​​in trouble.
They’re down 95-83, Denver’s biggest lead of the game.
Phoenix behind Denver, 86-81 with 3:01 left to play as Nuggets call timeout.
Denver has been surpassing Phoenix 8-4 since the 7-24 mark, and Nikola Jokic (game-high 37 points) has scored six goals in that run.
Jokic, Nuggets shave the lead in the final minute of the 3rd quarter
Nikola Jokic scored Denver’s last nine points in the third half to reduce the Suns’ lead to 73-70 and move into the fourth.
Devin Booker scored Phoenix’s last five points.
Jokic and Booker are level on 31 points.
The sun will rise over Nuggets at seven towards the end of Q3
Phoenix has its new largest lead, 68-61, over Denver at 1:51 in the third quarter.
Chris Paul left the game and went to the dressing room at 4:32 due to a left groin strain. He will not return to the game.
Phoenix leads Denver in the first timeout of the second half by 57:51 at 6:13 in the third quarter.
It’s Phoenix’s biggest lead in the game to date and they’re on an 11-2 lead.
Phoenix goes into the break ahead of Denver, 42-40.
Devin Booker has a game-high 17 points (7-of-14 shooting) after draining his second 3 just past the 1-minute mark to give Phoenix the lead. Deandre Ayton has 10 points and six rebounds, and Kevin Durant has nine points and seven rebounds at game level.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic has a high team-high of 13 points (6-of-12 FG) and Aaron Gordon has 10.
Phoenix coach Monty Williams went to his bench much earlier and deeper compared to Game 1, playing six from his second session. Denver left with three players from his second unit: Jeff Green; Bruce Brown and Christian Braun as always.
Phoenix currently leads the rebound fight 25-20 after struggling on the glass in Game 1 (49-38 in favor of Denver).
Nuggets go short-term to regain the lead early in second place
Denver leads Phoenix 24-21 when Phoenix called his second timeout of the game at 9:37 left in the half.
Aaron Gordon scored a steal on Devin Booker’s drive to the free-throw line and then went coast-to-coast for a nifty, contested left-handed layup as the last bucket before both teams went to the bench for a breather.
Phoenix is ​​21-18 ahead of Denver after ending the first quarter on a 7-2 run.
Devin Booker is Phoenix’s leading scorer so far with seven points, and Denver’s Jokic has a current game-high of 11.
Phoenix tied the game at 16-16 from Kevin Durant’s midrange jump shot and took his first timeout at 2:33 into the opening period.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic leads all scorers by 11 points (5-of-8 shooting)
Suns follow Nuggets at the first timeout of the game
There was a frantic tussle at the front, resulting in the loose ball going wide for a Suns possession. Devin Booker scored the first field goal of the game with a drive and shot down the left lane.
Then Nikola Jokic, along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, scored four of Denver’s first five buckets.
Nuggets lead 12-10 at 6:19.
The Suns are starting for the second year in a row with Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton and Josh Okogie.
Denver starts with Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Monday’s Suns vs. Nuggets game can be seen on TNT.
You can view the full schedule for the Suns vs. Nuggets NBA Playoffs Series here.
USA TODAY Sports’ Sportsbook Wire won the nuggets in Game 2, 116-111.
It said: “The 115.8 points per game that the Nuggets record is just 4.2 points more than the Suns allow (111.6). Denver has a 37-16-2 record against the spread and a 47-8 record overall if he scores more than 111.6 points. Phoenix is ​​33-18-2 against the spread and 39-14 overall when giving up less than 115.8 points. The Suns are scoring just 1.1 more points per game (113.6) than the Nuggets allow (112.5).”
For more tips and predictions for the competition, click here.
The Nuggets are a 4.5-point favorite over the Suns, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Denver is at -175 on the moneyline while Phoenix is ​​at +150.
The over/under for the game is set at 228.5 points.
For more NBA Playoffs series Suns vs. Nuggets odds click here.
Pre-game reading for Suns vs. Nuggets Game 2
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets Tips, Predictions: Who Will Win the NBA Playoffs Series?
Kevin Durant, Suns reflect on missing 3s in Game 1 and how to shoot more in Game 2
Devin Booker: “I always believe in us”; Suns looking to bounce back in Game 2 vs Nuggets
What must Suns do to win Game 2 vs Nuggets? Arizona Republic sportswriters break it down
Kevin Durant, Suns struggled to match the energy of Nuggets sixth man Bruce Brown in Game 1
Deandre Ayton swears Phoenix Suns will be “completely different” in Game 2 after the flop in Game 1
Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton fired from lack of effort against Denver Nuggets: ‘Inexcusable’
Phoenix Suns fans blast Monty Williams for losing Landry Shamet to Denver Nuggets
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