Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns sits on the floor as Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to fouling him alongside teammates Aaron Gordon (50) and Nikola Jokic (15) during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Torrey Craig (0) and Jock Landale (11) of the Phoenix Suns force a turnover by Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets argues a foul call with referee Zach Zarba (15) during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets drives against the physical defense of Jock Landale (11) of the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound away from Cameron Payne (15) of the Phoenix Suns as Michael Porter Jr. (1) and Nikola Jokic (15) add support during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns blocks Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone works against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets makes a three over Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns fouls Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns looms large after converting, while being fouled against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets dunks against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Michael Porter Jr. (1) head to the bench for a timeout against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns drives on Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Kevin Durant (35) after hitting a corner three pointer amidst a Suns’ run to take a double-digit lead over the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a shot conversion and a foul drawn by Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5), Nikola Jokic (15) and Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets walk to the bench for a timeout amidst a run by the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets runs the offense against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns forces a pass from Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets converts despite taking contact from Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns pump fakes as Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets defends during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jock Landale (11) of the Phoenix Suns defends Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets dunks against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns knocks a rebound away from Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets gets called for traveling after failing to hit the rim and rebound after spinning around Deandre Ayton (22) of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns drives between Aaron Gordon (50) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets blocks Landry Shamet (14) of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to dunking on Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Christian Braun (0) of the Denver Nuggets scores over T.J. Warren (21) of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns passes as Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defends during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets dunks on Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets argues after getting called for an offensive foul in which he lightly sent Landry Shamet (14) of the Phoenix Suns to the ground during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone argues with referee Sean Corbin (33) after Nikola Jokic (15) was called for an offensive foul in which he lightly sent Landry Shamet (14) of the Phoenix Suns to the ground during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic (15) show signs of frustration during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns scores over Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Kevin Durant (35) of the Phoenix Suns runs in transition against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) of the Denver Nuggets before dunking during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jock Landale (11) of the Phoenix Suns roars as Devin Booker (1) closes out the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets shows signs of frustration during the fourth quarter of Phoenix’s 121-114 win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns sits on the floor as Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to fouling him alongside teammates Aaron Gordon (50) and Nikola Jokic (15) during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Devin Booker (47 points) and Kevin Durant (39 points) combined for 86 points in a 121-114 Game 3 win over Denver to make it 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinals. Game 4 is in Phoenix on Sunday.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic put together another resplendent outing with 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists. Twice in the final 2:30 he passed up good opportunities from beyond the arc to get wide-open looks for Jamal Murray (32 points), but Murray missed both and Denver never got closer than five points in the closing minutes.
