Booker (47) and Durant (39) led a team that made it 2-1 in the tie
Nothing could be done by Jokic, with a triple double of 28+17+18, or Jamal Murray (32)
Against the wall after losing the first two games in Denver, The Phoenix Suns needed some monumental performances from Devin Booker (47 points) and Kevin Durant (39) to beat the Nuggets 121-114 at home this Friday and cut distances (1-2) in the semifinal series of the Western Conference of the NBA.
Without Chris Paul, out until at least the fourth game due to a pubic problem, Booker and Durant they led the Suns by the hand and frustrated the tremendous triple double of 28 points, 17 rebounds and 18 assists by Serbian Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s 32 points.
Under the gaze of stars such as the Spanish golfer Jon Rahm or Damian Lillard, point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, the Suns recovered sensations at the Footprint Center, where they will return this Sunday for the fourth game, again with no margin for error to avoid a new upset in the ‘playoffs’ for a franchise that seeks the first ring in its history. Booker and Durant scored 86 points for the Suns. The first connected twenty of his 25 field goals and sealed 47 with just two free throws, scored with six seconds to go with the game already sentenced. Durant supported him with 39, nine rebounds and eight assists and finished 12 of 31 from shots after starting 1 of 9.
Jokic’s magnificent performance was not enough for the Nuggets, who also gave rhythm to his teammates and favored Michael Porter Jr.’s 18 points. It was Booker to support the Suns in a difficult start to the game at the group level. The number one of the Suns signed fourteen of the first 21 points of his team and had already had 18 at halftime, with Durant stuck (only one of nine in shots) and with the Nuggets guided offensively by twelve points from Murray and by a Jokic always dominant under the rim.