Nikola Jokic had a triple-double after making up with Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia and Michael Porter Jr. sank 5 3-pointers to assist the Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix 118-102 on Tuesday evening in Recreation 5 to regain the sequence lead.
Joker had 29 factors, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his tenth profession playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for many by a middle in NBA historical past.
Recreation 6 is Thursday evening in Phoenix. The house staff has received each recreation within the sequence. If that holds true once more, the decisive winner-take-all conflict will come Sunday again in Denver, the place the top-seeded Nuggets personal the NBA’s finest dwelling document at 39-7, together with 5-0 within the playoffs.
After Denver misplaced two straight at Phoenix, Nuggets coach Michael Malone devised a five-point plan for the Nuggets to regain management of the sequence: patch up their transition protection, sluggish Devin Booker, get extra from his bench, unleash MPJ and knock down open 3s.
Test, verify, verify, verify and verify.
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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Deandre Ayton #2 of the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Could 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures)
Porter bounced again from a foul evening in Recreation 4 with 19 factors on 5-of-8 capturing from lengthy vary. Denver outscored Phoenix 31-23 in fast-break factors; Booker scored 28 factors however missed 11 of 19 photographs; Bruce Brown boosted the Nuggets’ bench with 25 factors and the Nuggets sank 13 of 27 from lengthy vary.
Kevin Durant chipped in 26 factors for Phoenix.
The Nuggets turned a three-point halftime lead right into a 91-74 cushion with a dominant third quarter by which Jokic made seven of eight photographs for 17 factors and Booker was simply 1-for-8 for 3 factors.
The chippiness of the sequence reached a brand new degree within the last minute of the third quarter when Nuggets swingman Brown antagonized the Suns as they huddled up on the courtroom and Durant gave Jokic a forearm shiver. A double technical was assessed on Durant and Brown.
Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets lays in a basket in opposition to the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Could 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures)
76ERS ROUT CELTICS ON ROAD, EARN CHANCE TO CLINCH SERIES AT HOME
Earlier than the sport, Jokic shared a heat pregame embrace — and the basketball — with Ishbia 48 hours after their kerfuffle over a free ball in Phoenix in Recreation 4 resulted in a technical foul and a $25,000 wonderful for the Nuggets massive man.
“I hoped he was going to pay my wonderful,” Jokic cracked after the sport.
The Nuggets jumped out to an early 14-point lead however the Suns trailed simply 52-49 at halftime, and the sport may need been tied had Booker’s almost halfcourt heave left his fingers only a tick sooner.
STAR SCARES
The Suns acquired a scare with 2.4 seconds left within the first quarter when Booker turned his left ankle after getting fouled by Jeff Inexperienced on an tried layup. A number of minutes later, the Nuggets acquired their very own scare when Murray turned his proper ankle and walked round gingerly, shaking it off to remain within the recreation.
Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets places up a shot in opposition to Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Could 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures)
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Suns: Phoenix surrendered the primary 9 factors of the sport earlier than Cameron Payne’s lengthy 3-pointer on the 9:33 mark. … Seated courtside alongside Ishbia was Michigan State soccer coach Mel Tucker, derisively identified in a lot of Colorado as “Midnight Mel” for his departure from the Buffaloes job solely hours after telling boosters he was in Boulder to remain.
Nuggets: This marked the primary recreation within the sequence that the chief after one quarter held on to win the sport. … The Nuggets held the Suns with out a level for greater than 2 minutes in every of the primary three quarters and Phoenix’s first bucket within the fourth quarter got here on the 10:16 mar on a bucket by Durant.
