The Phoenix Suns showed a dominant performance on Friday night at Footprint Center in Phoenix, winning Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs series. The Suns secured their first win of the series, pulling within 2-1, with an impressive final score of 121-114. This victory was crucial for the Suns, as they had lost the first two games of the series on the road.
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led the way for the Suns, with Booker finishing the game with 47 points on 20-for-25 field goal attempts, while Durant scored 39 points on 12-for-31 shooting. Booker’s performance was particularly noteworthy, with him not shooting any free throws until the final seconds of the game.
The Suns received some much-needed support off the bench, an area they had struggled in this postseason. Jock Landale played 22 minutes and had six points and nine rebounds, while T.J. Warren had seven points in 26 minutes, and Terrence Ross had five points in 14 minutes. Cameron Payne also made an impact, starting in place of the injured Chris Paul at point guard and playing 30 minutes, scoring seven points and dishing out six assists.
The Nuggets were not without their standout players, as Jamal Murray led the team with 32 points, while Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 17 assists, and 17 rebounds. Denver had a 51-41 edge in rebounding, including a 16-7 edge on the offensive glass. However, the Nuggets were unable to capitalize on their strengths, going 18-for-21 from the free throw line, while the Suns went 16-for-18.
The Suns outperformed the Nuggets in terms of field goal percentage, going 48-for-95, compared to Denver’s 43-for-97. The Suns’ dominance became apparent towards the end of the game, with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter, and the Suns ahead 116-107 after a driving scoop shot from Devin Booker, his 44th and 45th points of the night.
The Suns’ victory was all the more impressive considering they received a subpar performance from starting center Deandre Ayton, who had only nine rebounds and four points in 26 minutes. It was Jock Landale’s impact off the bench that outplayed Ayton and gave the Suns an edge.
The Nuggets will look to recover in Game 4, which will be held in Phoenix on Sunday. The Suns will look to maintain their momentum and secure another victory, which could be the turning point in this series.
In conclusion, the Phoenix Suns showed an outstanding performance in Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets, with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant leading the way. The Suns received crucial support off the bench, an area where they had struggled this postseason. While the Nuggets had standout players, they were unable to capitalize on their strengths, while the Suns dominated in field goal percentage and free throws. With Game 4 approaching, the Suns will look to maintain their momentum, while the Nuggets will be eager to recover from this loss.
Read: The Denver Nuggets Dominate Game 1 with Jamal Murray’s Heroics