The Phoenix Suns’ star quartet of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton appeared mighty common in its Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Now it’s intestine examine time when the Suns attempt to even the sequence in Game 2 on Monday in Denver.
There’s actually purpose to imagine the Suns have what it takes to bounce again. Phoenix misplaced Game 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers within the opening spherical earlier than reeling off 4 straight wins to advance.
“This group has been here already so we understand what it takes to emotionally settle down,” Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned. “Understand it’s a big game coming up. And our guys have played a number of big games.”
The greatest downside for Phoenix? This Denver crew seems vastly superior to the Clippers crew the Suns eradicated in spherical one.
Jamal Murray scored a game-high 34 factors and Nikola Jokic added 24 factors and 19 rebounds within the Nuggets’ 125-107 Game 1 victory on Saturday. It was a completely dominant win for Denver, which broke the sport open within the second quarter and by no means appeared again.
Denver had a 49-38 benefit in rebounding, together with 16-8 on the offensive glass. The Suns turned the ball over 16 instances whereas the Nuggets solely had 9.
“The difference is in possessions, turnovers, and offensive rebounds,” Williams mentioned. “They just destroyed us tonight. We have to regroup and do a much better job at playing with pace on offense. I thought we slowed down tonight for whatever reason.”
The Suns made it to the NBA Finals in 2021, sweeping the Nuggets within the second spherical alongside the best way. But Murray missed that sequence with an damage and now that he’s returned, the stability of energy may need shifted.
Murray shot 13 of 24 from the sphere, together with 6 of 10 on 3-pointers in Game 1.
“When Jamal Murray is fully healthy, locked, and loaded, we know what he is capable of and it is just so fun to watch him perform at the level he’s performing at,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned.
Denver leads 1-0. Game 2, 10 p.m. EDT, TNT
NEED TO KNOW
The top-seeded Nuggets attempt to take a 2-0 lead towards Durant, Booker and the Suns. Denver dominated in a 125-107 Game 1 win on Saturday, led by Jamal Murray’s 34 factors.
KEEP AN EYE ON
The Nuggets outrebounded the Suns 49-38, exposing an issue that has plagued Phoenix at instances this season. The Suns want Ayton to provide greater than his 14 factors and 7 rebounds in Game 1.
INJURY WATCH
The Suns and Nuggets are each comparatively wholesome. Phoenix backup guard Cameron Payne missed many of the opening spherical towards the Clippers with a sore again and has but to re-establish a job in his return. He was instrumental within the Suns’ run to the Finals in 2021.
PRESSURE IS ON
Suns. The crew’s star foursome of Ayton, Booker, Paul, and Durant performed first rate towards the Nuggets in Game 1 and Phoenix was nonetheless blown out by practically 20 factors. They’re going to must kick it up a notch — and get extra assist from position gamers — if the Nuggets proceed to play this properly.
