Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned afterward that Paul couldn’t push off his left leg, adding the team will know more Tuesday about the severity of the injury. Paul checked out with 4:32 left in the third quarter, and minutes later the team announced the veteran would not return. We’ll dig into that and more in our five takeaways from Game 3:Ĭhris Paul exited Game 2 late in the 3rd quarter with a groin injury.īattling Caldwell-Pope for a rebound, Suns point guard Chris Paul landed on one leg and immediately grabbed at his groin area before leaving the floor in the third quarter due to what the team described as left groin tightness. But I don’t mind ugly - 97-87 - I’ll take that all day weekly.” “We had a really pretty game in Game 1, and we won ugly tonight. “If you want to win, you’ve got to win ugly,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. Durant and Booker combined to score 59 points in Game 2 on 56 shots, while the rest of the team chipped in 28 points on 39 attempts. Secondly, the Nuggets continue to demonstrate that the Suns won’t be able to rely solely on big nights from their superstars in this series. They did that while also serving as the main defenders on Phoenix stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined to shoot 10 of 14 from the field and 5 of 7 from deep for 30 points. Regardless of what Denver decides to cook up for Game 3, it managed to establish a couple of hard truths over the first two games of the series that Phoenix will surely seek to counter back home.įirst, the Nuggets proved that simply taking away Murray likely won’t get the job done in this series, especially with a team backbone like Jokic surrounded by a supporting cast capable of picking up the scoring slack. So, that’s the recipe we probably need to play.” We a way, especially in the fourth quarter the defense was amazing. “It’s a low-scoring game,” Jokic said during his on-court postgame interview with TNT. The victory lifts Denver to a 2-0 series advantage in the Western Conference semifinals headed into Friday’s Game 3 at Footprint Center in Phoenix ( 10 ET, ESPN). Jokic rocked the reeling Suns for a game-high 39 points, 16 rebounds and five assists on a night that co-star Jamal Murray struggled from the floor (3 of 15) after coming off a 34-point showing in Game 1. He reduced Phoenix’s finesse to rubble in a Game 2 slugfest that concluded with Denver winning 97-87. ![]() Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Kings, 9 p.m.The Nuggets surge in the 4th quarter behind Nikola Jokic, outscoring the Suns 27-14 in that quarter to take a 2-0 series lead.ĭENVER - The MVP chants rained down as thanks from the 19,592 in attendance at Ball Arena for the force and physicality inflicted by Nikola Jokic. Portland Trail Blazers Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets, 7 p.m. ĭenver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder, 3:30 p.m. Miami Heat Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m New York Knicks New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. Golden State Warriors Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. ![]() Orlando Magic Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. Houston Rockets San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.īrooklyn Nets Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. Both teams have enriched their lineups by acquiring top-tier talent, with Damian Lillard joining the Bucks and Kristaps Porzingis becoming a crucial part of the Celtics.ĭetroit Pistons Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m.ĭenver Nuggets Memphis Grizzlies, 7 p.m. Just as in the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference sees the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks as the primary contenders. ![]() The path to playoff success is expected to be challenging, with factors such as injuries to key players and unexpected team chemistry issues possibly serving as the deciding factors in determining which teams make the top six and which are relegated to the play-in games. Teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Utah Jazz all have the potential to contend. However, the competition for the remaining playoff spots is wide open beyond these two formidable teams. The defending champion Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns, a team with excellent talent depth, are well-equipped with skilled players and expected to secure high rankings in the Western Conference.
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