|
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, the NBA MVP, was
given a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected late in the third quarter.
He finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges scored 14 points, Deandre Ayton had 12 points and
Jae Crowder had 10 rebounds and four blocks to go with nine
points for the Suns, who reached the conference finals for the
first time in 11 years.
Will Barton had 25 points, Michael Porter Jr. scored 20, Monte
Morris finished with 19 and Facu Campazzo 14 for Denver.
The Nuggets struggled in the third quarter of the first three
games but came out strong after halftime Sunday night. Porter
hit a 3-pointer to help cut an eight-point deficit to 71-70 with
7:46 left.
Things turned soon after. Paul made a trio of midrange jumpers
to keep Phoenix in the lead, and after Ayton's alley-oop on a
pass from Booker put the Suns ahead 83-75, tempers flared.
Jokic missed a 12-footer and then took a hard swipe at the ball
after Cameron Payne got the rebound. Booker went chest-to-chest
with Jokic as officials, players and coaches separated the two.
Jokic was hit with the Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected with 3:52
left.
He went over and shook Payne's hand as he left the court.
Phoenix quickly built a 15-point lead and led 96-83 heading into
the fourth quarter.
Denver showed some fight after that, cutting the lead to 99-93
on a 3-pointer by Porter. Barton hit another from deep and
JaVale McGee split a pair of free throws to make it 101-97. The
Suns built the lead back up to eight with 5:15 left.
Paul converted a three-point play and had a steal and a layup to
make it 114-103 and Phoenix closed it out.
Phoenix led by as many as 10 in the first half, saw the Nuggets
close within two, and led 63-55 halftime lead.
--Field Level Media
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
