2023-05-08 03:42:01
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 36 points and dished out 12 assists, Kevin Durant also had 36 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 129-124 to tie the Western Conference playoff series at two wins apiece. .
Backup point guard Landry Shamet hit crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep the Suns ahead. Denver lost despite a great second-place game by MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting from the field.
Jokic used his physical play to make several big baskets, even wresting the ball from Suns owner Mat Ishbia at one point when the ball went out of bounds, earning him a technical foul on the All-Star. of the Nuggets.
The series will return to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Suns took a 98-92 lead in the fourth quarter following a scoring drive by Booker, who had 17 points in the third. Phoenix didn’t trail in the fourth, though Denver didn’t go down without a fight.
The Nuggets were down 116-106 with 4:55 to play, but they didn’t panic, slowly closing the gap. They pulled within 123-120 with 22.4 seconds left, but TJ Warren made two free throws to extend the lead back to five.
Booker, averaging 36 points and shooting 60% in these playoffs, has once once more been on fire, shooting 14-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Shamet finished with 19 points, going 5-of-8 on 3-point range. Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists for the Nuggets.
Suns guard Chris Paul was sidelined for the second straight game with a left groin strain sustained during Game 2.
1683520013
#Booker #Durant #shine #Suns #tie #series #Nuggets
