![]() The Nuggets are the top seed in the Western Conference and won both of the first two games by double digits. Shortly after the play, Paul walked toward the bench and went to the locker room. ![]() Paul - a 12-time All-Star - was boxing out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 2 on Sunday when the Nuggets guard went up for an offensive rebound with just under 5 minutes left in the third quarter. While the Suns have Paul listed as day-to-day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Paul’s status for Games 3 and 4 is in doubt, while Shams Charania of The Athletic reports the Suns are preparing to play Games 3-5 without him. INJURY UPDATE: Further evaluation has confirmed that Chris Paul has sustained a left groin strain. Game 3 is on Friday in Phoenix ( 10 ET, ESPN). The team updated Paul’s status on Tuesday night. ![]() Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul has a left groin strain and the team says his status is considered “day to day” as Phoenix tries to climb out of a 2-0 hole against the Denver Nuggets in their Western Conference playoff series. All rights reserved.Chris Paul exited Game 2 late in the 3rd quarter with a groin injury. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. The Nuggets had 68 points by halftime in the series opener but made just 16 first-half shots Monday night. Nuggets: Jokic scored 11 of Denver's first 14 points but only had 13 by halftime. The Suns didn't shoot a single free throw in the first half. ![]() Suns: Phoenix held the Nuggets to their lowest-scoring first quarter all season, limiting them to 18 points. So we’re not quite sure what it is right now, but it seems to be something in the groin area. “He just came up where he couldn’t push off of it or anything. “He just looked like he was boxing out,” Williams said. The Suns lost Chris Paul to a tight left groin late in the third quarter and he finished with 8 points. Jokic's big night was necessary as Murray shot 3 for 15 and missed all nine of his 3-pointers after sinking six of 10 in the opener, and Porter scored five points on 2-for-7 shooting.Īaron Gordon added 16 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 14 points and went 4 for 4 from beyond the arc, including back-to-back swishes that erased the 73-70 deficit and put the Nuggets ahead for good early in the fourth quarter. But Jokic was doing a little bit too much. "He obviously got it going in the first game. The Suns held Murray to 10 points 48 hours after he went off for 34 but they had no answers for Jokic. “We’ve got to go home and take care of business. “You’ve got to believe that it’s going to come our way here soon,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. The Suns have been outscored by 30 points from long range this series. He sure showed why Monday night when 26 of his points and 12 of his rebounds came after halftime, when he dominated at both ends of the floor, denyng the Suns a shot at tying the series that shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 Friday night. “If he doesn’t win it, I’m still gonna give him a hug and tell him he’s the MVP in my eyes.” Only a few guys in NBA history have done that,” Malone said. “If he wins, it, we will be celebrating and very happy for him because it’d be a huge accomplishment - three years in a row. Malone said that's because Jokic isn't motivated by winning more MVPs but by leading the Nuggets to their first NBA title. Jokic shined a night before he learns if he's edged Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo for his third consecutive NBA MVP award, recently renamed for Michael Jordan. And that fourth quarter, man, 14 points for that team, 28% from the field, 0-for-9 from 3?”ĭevin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points and Kevin Durant added 24 but they combined to miss a whopping 32 shots, including 14 from long range. I love a guy who's getting to the basket, imposing his will upon the other team. “Nikola's an MVP for a reason,” Malone said. “I love an aggressive Nikola Jokic,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Jokic knocked down 17 shots to offset an off-night by Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., who combined to make miss 17 of 22 shots. Nikola Jokic's 39 points leads Nuggets past Suns 97-87ĭENVER - Nikola Jokic scored 39 points and pulled down 16 rebounds on the eve of the NBA MVP announcement to rally the Denver Nuggets to a 97-87 win over Phoenix on Monday night, giving them a 2-0 lead over the Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |