Phoenix ousted the shorthanded LA Clippers just hours later in that series’ Game 5 as Devin Booker scored 25 points in the third quarter (and finished with a postseason career-high-tying 47 points) in a 136-130 victory.Īlthough the teams faced off four times in the regular season - each team won twice - Durant wasn’t yet a member of the Suns when Denver defeated them by a combined 32 points in the first two meetings prior to the All-Star break. When that happens, reigning two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic will lead the Denver Nuggets against a star-studded Phoenix squad headlined by 2014 MVP Kevin Durant and All-Star guard Devin Booker.īoth teams handled their business quickly in eliminating their first-round opponents in five games.ĭenver punched its ticket to the next round first on Tuesday, outlasting the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-109 in Game 5 behind a 28-point triple-double from Jokic and a game-high 35 points from Jamal Murray.
Three of the most likely candidates to capture the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy - the award given to the Western Conference finals MVP - hit the floor Saturday for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals at Ball Arena.
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Start your online subscription.Nikola Jokic and Deandre Ayton’s last playoff matchup was in the 2021 semifinals, a 4-0 sweep by the Suns. Follow him on Twitter at local journalism. Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at contact him at 48. They’ve got all the intangibles they need, all the energy guys. “We just know they have a foundation,” Payne said about the Nuggets. Payne and Williams both said the Suns can still draw something from those four games even though key guys were out from both teams for the games and the Suns acquired Durant in a trade before the last two matchups. The Suns and Nuggets had already locked up their respective seedings. Murray missed the game with a thumb injury while Porter Jr., Jokic and Caldwell-Pope were out for the same reasons they missed the third game against Phoenix. Game 4 - Denver sat all five of its starters including Aaron Gordon (shoulder).
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(heel injury management) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (non-COVID illness) while the Suns were full strength with Kevin Durant back from an ankle injury. Game 3 - The Nuggets sat Nikola Jokic (calf), Jamal Murray (knee injury management), Michael Porter Jr. Game 2 - Chris Paul (hip), Deandre Ayton (ankle), Cameron Johnson (knee), Landry Shamet (hip) and Cameron Payne (foot) were out with injuries as well as Booker. Game 1 - Devin Booker suffered a strained left groin early in the first quarter on Christmas Day. The Suns split four games against the Nuggets this season with Phoenix losing the first two in Denver and winning the latter at home, but there were different circumstances for each game. “I think it’s good to get up here, get used to the elevation a little bit and just settle in,” Booker said. Surely can’t hurt having two days in Denver before a game than one in preparing to face the No. Not quite sure two days allows for you to acclimate, but you never know how it will benefit guys.” “The more time you can spend here, the better.
“There’s always that thing that people don’t talk about, but it’s a deal with the altitude,” Williams continued. The Suns have also given themselves extra time to get acclimated to the high altitude in Denver. Allowing them to get some good work in and go to the hotel and just have a great camaraderie and unity and all that stuff.” It’s just us talking, going over things that are necessary.
It’s almost like a mini training camp, if you will. “I thought it was great to be able to get up here. “We as a staff were talking about options and right when the game was over, our guys were like wanting to get up here,” Suns coach Monty Williams said as the fourth-seeded Suns practiced inside the practice court at Ball Arena. So, the Suns flew out to Denver two days before Saturday’s Game 1 and practiced Thursday at Ball Arena after having off day following their Game 5 closeout victory Tuesday over the Clippers in the first round. “We’re not doing anything better at home besides just waiting on this,” Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker said. View Gallery: Photos: Suns-Clippers Game 5, April 25, 2023ĭENVER - The Suns didn’t feel a need to stay another day in sunny Phoenix before traveling to colder Denver for the start of the Western Conference semifinals.
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