{"id":50044,"date":"2023-05-02T18:18:19","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T22:18:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=50044"},"modified":"2023-05-02T18:18:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T22:18:19","slug":"nuggets-suns-game-2-nikola-jokic-outduels-devin-booker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/05\/02\/nuggets-suns-game-2-nikola-jokic-outduels-devin-booker\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets-Suns Game 2: Nikola Joki\u0107 Outduels Devin Booker"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/nuggets\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Denver Nuggets<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> outfought the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/suns\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoenix Suns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Game 2 and earned a 97-87 win. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/04\/top-nba-players-2022-23-11-devin-booker\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Devin Booker<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was brilliant throughout en route to 35 points on 14-29 shooting and six assists, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Nikola Joki\u0107<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was golden for the Nuggets. The reigning MVP scored 39 points on 17-30 shooting with 16 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Denver won a fast-paced shootout in Game 1 and a physical defensive fight in Game 2 to take their 2-0 series lead. Can Phoenix gain traction, or are they destined to meekly bow out of the playoffs for the second straight year?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Nuggets-Suns Game 2: Nikola Joki\u0107 Outduels Devin Booker<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Devin Booker Stars for the Suns in the First Half<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was a surprisingly low-scoring contest from the opening tip. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/12\/top-nba-players-2022-23-5-kevin-durant\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Kevin Durant<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started slow, shooting just 2-8 in the first quarter for four points. Booker<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">created most of Phoenix\u2019s offense as the primary ball handler. He assumed control of the game as Phoenix led 21-18 at the end of the first quarter. Joki\u0107 kept the Nuggets afloat with his balletic post moves and tiptoe set shots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Nuggets started the second quarter with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gordoaa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Aaron Gordon<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at center and confused the Suns by switching on defense. Denver got out in transition on a quick 8-0 run. Phoenix was scoreless for the first 3:45 of the second before Durant banked in a three.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both teams increased their physicality as their scoring struggles continued. Booker was brilliant as the Suns\u2019 lifeline (17 first half points on 7-14 shooting, 3-4 from 3).<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Book from deep \ud83c\udfaf <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tz70VJ3MJ6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/tz70VJ3MJ6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Suns\/status\/1653232363495907328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/murraja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jamal Murray<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> struggled after his brilliant Game 1, scoring just four points on 1-7 shooting at the half. Phoenix took a 42-40 lead into halftime despite Durant\u2019s continued struggles.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Nuggets and Nikola Jokic Pull Away from the Suns in the Second Half<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Denver\u2019s defense sprung some leaks in the third quarter after being unfazed by Phoenix\u2019s pick-and-roll attack. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Chris Paul<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started to find the mark from midrange, and the Suns were swarming on defense. Unfortunately for Paul, he suffered his annual postseason injury in the third as well, leaving with 4:32 left in the quarter with a groin injury. They took an eight-point lead midway through the third before Joki\u0107 found Porter on a transition leak-out for an and-one layup. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yeah Mike \ud83d\udde3 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LrNI12yKTO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/LrNI12yKTO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nuggets\/status\/1653241276727459841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joki\u0107 (18 points in the third) displayed atypical aggression scoring to keep Denver competitive. He traded buckets with the red-hot Booker to keep Denver within three to end the quarter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joki\u0107 sat the first 2:35 of the fourth. Phoenix went scoreless despite Booker playing the entire time while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/caldwke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hit a three. Jokic returned and immediately set Caldwell-Pope up for another three to give Denver a 76-73 lead they wouldn\u2019t relinquish. The Nuggets didn\u2019t dominate, but they answered any attempt by Phoenix to gain momentum. Phoenix\u2019s intensity wilted as Denver earned their 2-0 series lead.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Nuggets-Suns: Game 3 Preview<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sun may be setting early in Phoenix. Recent history suggests Paul could miss significant time. Anthony Davis was essentially knocked out of the playoffs in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silverscreenandroll.com\/2021\/5\/31\/22461433\/medical-analysis-anthony-davis-grade-1-groin-strain-timeline-lakers-injury-report-suns\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021 with a Grade 1 groin strain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (He attempted to play in Game 6 vs. Phoenix but left after just five minutes). <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/suns-star-devin-booker-out-for-at-least-4-weeks-with-groin-strain-191618223.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Booker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> missed nearly two months <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/stories\/nba\/suns-devin-booker-groin-strain-out-at-least-four-weeks\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with a groin strain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> earlier this season. The Suns, already thin after the Durant trade, are now downright scrawny.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paul\u2019s injury makes it even more important to find an offensive rhythm for Durant. Getting him fully integrated into Phoenix\u2019s offense has proven futile. They cannot hope to develop the type of chemistry the other teams in the postseason possess after Durant played just eight regular-season games with Phoenix.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are avenues Monty Williams can explore, however. Even if Paul is able to play, some of his pick-and-roll touches should be shifted to Durant. Joki\u0107 happily conceded midrange jumpers to Paul while defending Booker more aggressively, and even a struggling Durant would cause more disruption to Denver\u2019s defense. Williams can let Durant play center when Denver goes small with Joki\u0107 on the bench. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/payneca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Cameron Payne<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leeda03.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Damion Lee<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/okogijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Josh Okogie<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/craigto01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Torrey Craig<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Durant lineup might give Durant more space to attack.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Durant must be paired with a knockdown shooter when Booker sits. That could be Lee, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/shamela01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Landry Shamet<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rosste01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Terrence Ross<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Lee might be the best option since he\u2019s played the most minutes in this series of the three (he shot 0-5 tonight). Lee was the best shooter of the three during the regular season at 44.2%, although he shot a lower volume than the other two. He\u2019s also the most playoff-proven defender after spending last season with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/warriors\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Golden State Warriors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Whoever it is, Durant desperately needs a consistent shooting threat so the Nuggets cannot load up on his isolations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Last Word<\/b><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nikola Jokic\u2019s daughter points to her ring finger in the stands and Jokic returns the gesture \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc8d<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qFX2bvEQzj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/qFX2bvEQzj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ClutchPoints\/status\/1653255588770623490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Denver Nuggets outfought the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 and earned a 97-87 win. Devin Booker was brilliant throughout en route to 35 points on 14-29 shooting and six assists, but Nikola Joki\u0107 was golden for the Nuggets. The reigning MVP scored 39 points on 17-30 shooting with 16 rebounds, five assists, and two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4175,"featured_media":50047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,20,28],"tags":[4759,229,352,69,72],"class_list":["post-50044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-nuggets","category-suns","tag-2023-nba-playoffs","tag-chris-paul","tag-devin-booker","tag-kevin-durant","tag-nikola-jokic"],"modified_by":"Zach Kircher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50044"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50044\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}