Nuggets guard Jamal Murray put up 34 points to lead Denver in a 125-107 rout of the Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal game on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Murray added nine assists and five rebounds. Denver star Nikola Jokic had 24 points and a 19 rebound double-double as his team shot 47.5 percent from the field.
- Kevin Durant led the Suns with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Co-star Devin Booker had 27 points. Phoenix only went 7 of 23 from 3 points.
- Game 2 is Monday at 10pm EST in Denver.
the athleteInstant Analysis:
We make the suns stars work
It was clear in this playoffs that Durant and Booker were going to have to shoulder a heavy burden when it came to playing time. Durant averaged 43.8 minutes in Phoenix’s first-round series against the Clippers. Booker averaged 43.2. And the two players continued to make those marks until coach Monty Williams waved the white flag with more than five minutes left in the game, trailing by 23 minutes.
Trying to exploit this, Denver clearly wants to get out and run. During the first half of the second quarter, when center MVP Joki rested, the Nuggets pushed a one-point advantage to an eight-point advantage, building on a transitional offense that kicked into full gear once the Suns missed a shot or committed a live ball turnover. The Nuggets finished with 20 points in transition, a mark higher than their average of 17 per game which ranked fourth in the NBA during the regular season.
“We’re so much better when we get out there and run,” said guard Bruce Brown. – Cosmider
The sun can’t stop nuggets
Williams never revealed Phoenix’s defensive game plan for the first game. In the end, it wasn’t necessary. The sun did not stop anyone. Not Murray who set them on fire for 34 points. Les Jokic scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds. Not Aaron Gordon, not Brown, or anyone else. Denver didn’t blow the net—the Nuggets shot just 47.5 percent—but it looked like they were getting anything they wanted. In the playoffs, the team has to take something. Suns took away zilch. Denver took 17 more shots than Phoenix. The Nuggets outscored the Suns 48-21 by 3 points. to stop? not enough. – Haller
Highlight of the game
Jamal takes over the fourth 🏹 pic.twitter.com/fN6U7k9DHk
– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 30, 2023
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(Photo: Ron Chinoy/USA Today)