Playoffs NBA 2021 Nuggets vs Suns juego 2 Those of Phoenix spend a quiet night before the recent MVP
Reuters
Chris Paul had 17 points and 15 assists without a turnover, Devin Booker added 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns defeated the Denver Nuggets 123-98 on Wednesday. at night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference. semifinals.
Deandre Ayton had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 16 points for the balanced Suns. Paul was particularly impressive and it seems his ailing right shoulder, which greatly limited his game against the Lakers in the first round, is no longer a big problem. He had 21 points and 11 assists in Game 1.
Nikola Jokic scored 24 points and 13 rebounds for Denver, one day after receiving the NBA Most Valuable Player award. But the Nuggets couldn’t find anyone else to score consistently, leaving them reeling as they returned to Denver for Game 3 on Friday night.
The Suns held a 10-point lead at halftime on Wednesday and Jae Crowder added a pair of 3-pointers early in the third. to make the score 60-43. Phoenix took an 86-67 lead in the fourth. The Suns led by 31 in the fourth quarter.
Crowder had another good night as the Suns’ long-range shooter and enforcer. Both he and Aaron Gordon of Denver were charged for a technical foul. after they exchanged words and shoves in the middle of the third. On the next possession, Crowder convinced Gordon to commit an offensive foul, to the delight of the 16,529 at Phoenix Suns Arena.
Paul pushed the packed crowd to a frenzy in the fourth, throwing his 15th assist to Torrey Craig after crossing between defenseless Denver forward Paul Millsap. The 36-year-old point guard then hit a pair of 3-pointers and the celebration began in the desert with the Suns. rolling in his first playoff appearance in 11 seasons.
Phoenix took a 52-42 lead at halftime after a sloppy first half in which both teams struggled to generate offense. Denver staggered on its long-range shots, hitting just 1 of 13 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Booker had 13 points before the break. Jokic responded with 15 points.
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