Dan Beckley
Updated: May 6, 2023 at 12:40 am
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Kevin Durant (35) after hitting a pointer in the corner three amid a Suns run to take a double-double lead over the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, May 5, 2023 (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz / MediaNews Group / The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Despair was on their side. So was Devin Booker.
There was no substitute for Friday night at the Footprint Center.
The Suns restored confidence with a solid 121-114 win over the Nuggets in a pivotal Game 3, calming the nerves of a fickle fanbase. They will restore order with another victory on Sunday.
“We’re just grateful for the win, and grateful for all the contributions,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said. “And we’ll need him again on Sunday.”
The heavy lifting was provided by two Phoenix stars. Booker and Kevin Durant scored 86 points in 85 minutes combined. No one else on the team came close to double digits.
Booker and Durant took much different paths in their productivity. Booker was burning, exercising his will immediately after the opening communiqué. Durant continued to struggle with his shot but penalized Denver with 16 of his team’s 18 free throw attempts.
It’s not the easiest way to navigate the post-season. There is a fear of attrition, and after the match, Durant admitted that he lost his head and thinks a lot on the floor. But neither of them seemed to mind the heavy minutes. There is no other way to championship for a team with a high seat and no depth in the base.
“I feel good,” Booker said. “Blessed be I am here.”
Durant was definitely impressed.
“I can’t say enough about Bock,” Durant said. “Just at a loss for words.”
During his time in the Valley, Williams was also often outplayed in the playoffs. He was regressive and slow to adjust. But that wasn’t a problem on Friday.
Without point guard Chris Paul, the Suns produced a very different look in Game 3. A pair of defensive players – Josh Okoje and Torey Craig – were almost a late thought in the revamped lineup while Terence Ross and TJ Warren went off the bench end to play nearly 39 minutes combined. Warren responded with a few big buckets in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Jock Landale gave the team hustle and energy and badly outperformed starting center Deandre Ayton.
“He just canceled,” Williams said. “You can’t refer to anything he did from a high level skill perspective. But he just canceled it.”
Ayton scored four points in just under 26 minutes. His insane drive and ingenious approach incited the fan base, and many booed Ayton after he missed an attempt to roll his fingers over the rim that was supposed to be a ferocious dunk. It’s clear that Ayton is struggling to get his spot in the Durant Suns’ poker game, and that’s a situation to watch.
“This is life,” said Booker. “We’ve been around long enough to understand that every night isn’t going to be your night…. (but) energy and effort should always be high, especially around this time.”
For now, the contributions from the bench have been a pleasant surprise, and proof that role players always perform better in the comfort of home. Without Paul on Earth, the Sun played at a greater pace, and the results were encouraging.
Will Williams stick to his new rotation? Can they hold their own defensively in Game 4?
Here’s the good news: The Suns are still waiting for that superlative performance from Durant, one of the greatest players in NBA history. When that happens, he’ll be a welcome addition to the series.
You can reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta 7 days a week from 6am-10am on Arizona Sports Station 98.7 FM.
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