![]() We have to be ready for it, not just talk about it tomorrow. Denver discussed what Payne might bring to the table ahead of Game 3, but Malone admitted that “talking about it and being ready for it are two different things. The former supercharged the pace of the home team’s offense. Payne joined the Suns starting lineup for Game 3 as the replacement for future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, who is out with a strained left groin. That started from the opening bucket of the game, when Cameron Payne drove coast-to-coast for a layup, followed by transition baskets from Booker and Josh Okogie that gave Phoenix an early 6-2 lead. But credit Booker and Durant for finding ways to overcome, as well as Phoenix’s coaching staff, which tweaked rotations and tactics to throw the Nuggets out of synch. The superstars also became the ninth duo in NBA playoffs history to each produce 39 points or more in a single postseason contest.ĭenver devoted the resources necessary to neutralize the Suns star duo. 29, 1962) for the sixth-most combined points by a duo of teammates in league postseason history, according to Elias Sports Bureau. ![]() In combining for 86 points in Game 3, Booker and Durant tied Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (Mar. A very honest, direct film, and the players owned it.” I just got done going through the film with our guys. “The game came down to our defense, or lack thereof. “Considering the clips were very negative, it was a very positive film session,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Saturday afternoon, a day after his team’s 121-114 loss in Game 3 to the Suns. PHOENIX – The Denver Nuggets cringed collectively at times watching clips nearly 12 hours removed from conducting a Game 3 clinic of what not to do defensively in the Western Conference semifinals.Īs the images flickered from one to the next, brutal honestly closed out the way the team should have on Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who combined for 86 points in Game 3. Denver's team defense is what has allowed it to have success against this style of offense.Denver aims to throw more resistance at Devin Booker and the Suns in Game 4. This is an area Denver has defended well, allowing 0.98 points per possession, the sixth-best mark in the league. Phoenix has run the majority of its offense on spot-up shooting (26.9% of possessions) and scores 1.09 points per possessions, per NBA Advanced Stats. After that, there is a noticeable drop across the roster. Booker (+15.6), Durant (+6.7) and Jusuf Nurkic (+5.7) have the three best point differentials on the Suns. However, when Booker and Kevin Durant have shared the floor, the Suns have a +9.7 Net Rating with a scorching hot offense - they score 128.7 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass.Īlthough the Suns have improved some of their depth with a variety of sharp shooters, there is a clear delineation between the starters and the bench unit. Phoenix has struggled to maintain any type of continuity this season as a result of injuries to their star players. The Phoenix Suns still have listed Devin Booker (ankle) as questionable and they will already be without Bradley Beal (back). The margins are going to be thinner this season. The eFG% is about 2% worse on the season than it was last season, per Cleaning the Glass. This season, Denver is shooting a touch worse than it was last season. ![]() Phoenix couldn't stop the Nuggets' offense and even though Phoenix shot a blistering 53.5% eFG%, they were at a significant math disadvantage due to their reliance on the mid-range jumper. When these teams played each in the playoffs last season, the matchup was fascinating. The Nuggets' defense is about league average, but this team has played bend-don't-break defense and then destroys teams with their offense. On the season, Denver has the fourth-best Adjusted Net Rating (+2.1) and the second-best Adjusted Offensive Rating (118.3), per Dunksandthrees. When Murray has missed this season, Jokic jumps to 29.8 ppg, Gordon to 18.5 ppg and Caldwell-Pope to 12.2. When Gordon has missed time over the past two seasons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's scoring has seen a slight uptick, increasing to 12.8 ppg. will have to handle a greater offensive load. Gordon and Murray are the concerning ones and if they miss this game, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. The Nuggets have also listed Jamal Murray (ankle) as questionable and Peyton Watson (illness) as probable. The Nuggets look to continue their success this season, but may be without Aaron Gordon (heel), who is questionable for this contest and missed Denver's previous game against the Rockets.
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