PHOENIX (AP) – Two years ago, the Denver Nuggets were embarrassed by the Phoenix Suns in a postseason sweep.
This time, it was the Nuggets who dished out the embarrassment.
Nikola Jokic scored 32 points in another triple-double, Jamal Murray added 26 and the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2020 by beating the short-handed Suns 125-100 in Game 6 on yesterday.
“When we defend, when we rebound, when we run, when we share the ball, we believe we’re the best team in the NBA,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “And tonight, we showed it.”
The Nuggets will play in the conference finals for the first time since they lost to the Lakers in five games in the Florida bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have never reached the NBA Finals.
The top-seeded Nuggets used a 23-2 run during the latter part of the first quarter to take a 44-26 lead and never looked back. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – averaging 9.5 points in the playoffs – scored 17 in the first quarter while Jokic added 14.
“We were the aggressors the whole game,” Jokic said. “Especially the first half. We were just really good.”
Caldwell-Pope finished with 21 points. Jokic shot 13 of 18 from the field and added 12 assists and 10 rebounds. It was his fourth triple-double of the postseason in 11 games.
“He shows (his greatness) every night,” Murray said.
Denver’s offensive onslaught continued in the second as the lead grew to 81-51 by halftime, leading to boos from Suns fans as players made their way to the locker room. The second half was essentially an afterthought.
“It was deflating to see them score like that and running down the floor getting easy buckets,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.
“That falls on my shoulders not having us ready to play at the highest level in the biggest game of the year.”
Cameron Payne scored 31 points for Phoenix, hitting seven of nine three-pointers. Kevin Durant added 23. The Suns were playing without injured starters Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul.
Ayton sustained a rib contusion in Tuesday’s Game 5 while Paul has been out the past four games with a strained left groin.
