On the stage of the Western Conference semifinals last year, the Nuggets were still swept out by the Suns 0-4, and without the help of the second boss Murray, they were beaten by the opponent without the help of the opponent. In the closing stage of this regular season, the Nuggets welcomed their old rival Sun at home, and the opponent was still a back-to-back game, and the inside core Ayton cut 35 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against Towns, and 35 points was also a new career high. This will give us a new expectation, whether Ayton can limit Jokic's play, once he can play a brilliant performance will help him win a contract with a maximum salary.
This is not only a battle for Ayton's top salary, but also a defense battle for the Suns to maintain the first honor of the league, or Paul's comeback battle after many days, so it has multiple meanings for the Suns. For the Nuggets, if they can win this game, it will help the team maintain the sixth place record, and can also provide a great help for Jokic in the MVP competition, after all, this is a game to win the league's first team, the gold content is very high.
After the start of the game, Jokic showed a strong driving ability, and together with Barton helped the team play a wave of 11-4 offensive climax, the scene once suppressed the Suns' play; then we saw the resilience of the Suns, Paul and Booker joined forces to tie the score, you come and go to make it 33-31. After returning from the second quarter, the Nuggets' bench played a three-point rain attack led by Cousins, and the team temporarily led 53-46; then Ayton and Booker blossomed inside and out, once again chasing the score to 64-64; however, the Nuggets still led slightly at 68-66 at the end of the half.
After the start of the third quarter, Paul and Ayton's blocking helped the Suns open up the situation, but the Nuggets still felt hot and kept shooting three-pointers, leading slightly at 85-78. The two sides then went on a head-to-head position, with the Nuggets leading by nine points at 101-92; Booker was a supergiant after all, with a strong scoring ability to keep taking points, helping the team to tie the score at the end of the third quarter to 104-106.
The final showdown also fully demonstrated the strength of the Suns' champion team, the Sun blossomed more and the Nuggets fell into a scoring drought, Bridges incarnated as a Wizard to score 7 points to help the Suns lead the opponent 122-114; then Jokic personally also entered the offensive mode, but the Suns were able to respond almost every round, and finally won 140-130 against the opponent, and he also ushered in a wave of seven consecutive victories.
The scores for both sides are as follows:
Suns (60-14): Booker 49 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 breaks and 1 cap, Bridges 22 points and 2 assists, Crowder 12 points and 6 rebounds, Ayton 16 points and 7 rebounds, Paul 17 points, 13 assists and 4 rebounds, Craig 8 points and 2 rebounds, Shamet 2 points and 2 rebounds, Payne 9 points and 5 assists;
Nuggets (43-31): Gordon 21 points and 6 rebounds, Jeff Green 11 points, Jokic 28 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 breaks, 8 turnovers, Barton 17 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, Morris 15 points and 4 assists, Hyland 23 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, Gemakao Green 1 point and 6 rebounds, Cousins 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Reid 4 points and 3 rebounds;
From the data point of view, both sides have played a very high-quality offense, and there seems to be a feeling of "no one can prevent anyone". But in the fourth quarter of the showdown, we will find that the Nuggets do not have too many offensive points to respond to, which is also the team's current shortcomings, except for the return of Murray and Porter Jr. The Suns were able to score more points, and they played a perfect game, starting five people all scoring in double figures; Booker, although the first scorer, still used excellent defense to stimulate the state of his teammates, and the Suns' championship fangs had been unconsciously exposed.
You know, the Suns overturned the Nuggets with absolute offensive and defensive strength, which has MVP big hit Jokic, and the data level also shows their strength. Paul still had 17 points and 13 assists in his return from injury, Booker scored 49 points and 10 assists, and the role players all played well. That is to say, Paul played his best form, and he could beat the opponent without scoring high scores; and Booker showed the scoring nature of Kobe Bryant's disciples, and also incarnated the team's second organizing point, making it easier for teammates to score.
Moreover, the Suns not only have a more mature Ayton in the inner height, but also an experienced championship center like McGee; the playoffs can inspire such a good competitive state before the playoffs, the defending champion Bucks' back is afraid to get cold, right? Once the two have a chance to duel again, it is not so easy to conclude who wins and who loses.