The Phoenix Suns have taken a 1-0 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 122-105 win.
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Game 1 between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets was a tale of two halves. The first half was incredibly competitive as any fan could have asked for but, then, Chris Paul and the Suns took control during the third quarter as they snatched a 122-105 win.
Game one ✔️
??????????. #RallyTheValley pic.twitter.com/aorw5JuWph
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 8, 2021
Impressively, all the Phoenix’s starters scored in double figures. Four of them hitting the 20-point mark. Chris Paul was fantastic, finishing with 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. He had plenty of help though as Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton who combined for 64 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists for the win.
We love to see it. pic.twitter.com/pCgPWws9r6
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 8, 2021
On the other side, Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 22 points and nine rebounds but, in the end, his performance wasn’t enough to keep the game competitive in the end.
Chris Paul looks fully healthy. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, showing off his typical mastery. He launched beautiful lob passes all over the court and even looked faster than he did in the Lakers series. This is why the Suns traded Chris Paul for, the one that helped turn them into a contender. Now that Phoenix has Paul back at his best, their championship odds should be rising by the day.
? @CP3 guides the @Suns to victory in Game 1 with 21 PTS (14 on 6-6 FGM in 4th) and 11 AST! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs
Game 2: Wednesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/AQLvyM48oe
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2021
Every Nuggets game for the rest of the playoffs will largely be decided by whether they can make up for the loss of the injured Star Jamal Murray.
Denver can’t stop Phoenix right now. Every time they trim the deficit slightly, Phoenix turns right back around and matches them. A solid display by Nikola Jokic wasn’t enough for Denver to take home-court advantage.
Jokic looked fatigued in the second half. The Suns held the presumptive MVP to only 22 points on only 10 of 23 shooting despite starting with 5 of 6.
Back-to-back CP3 jumpers stretches the @Suns lead to 15 early in the 4th! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/lFSICyPzKv
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2021
Phoenix seized control of the game with a 16-0 rampage after it was behind by nine. Credit in large part to the brilliant play of Miles Bridges.
These two teams will meet again on Wednesday for Game 2.
