NBA playoffs
Phoenix shortens against Denver – Boston wins at 76ers
Successful duo of the Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker and Kevin Durant (r). photo
© Matt York/AP
Thanks to their stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns can once again hope for a place in the NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics also win in the third game of his series.
The Phoenix Suns got their first win in the playoff quarterfinals of the North American professional basketball league NBA against the Denver Nuggets.
Led by their star players Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, the Suns won 121-114 (67-52) and reduced the best-of-seven series to 1-2. The outstanding Booker scored 47 points, Durant contributed 39 points and was the only player on his team to get free throws until the final seconds. In the absence of the injured Chris Paul, no other Suns player had more than seven points.
Even a so-called triple double by Nikola Jokic was not enough for the nuggets. The center ended the game with 30 points and 17 assists and rebounds each. Jokic had never managed more templates in the playoffs. Jamal Murray scored 32 points but, like Jokic, was unlucky with a few narrow shots in the final quarter.
The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, have taken a 2-1 lead in their series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics won in Philadelphia 114-102 (57-50). Jayson Tatum scored ten of his 27 points in the final quarter, while Jaylen Brown contributed 23 points in the away win.
Joel Embiid, who was named MVP of the season before the game, led the 76ers with 30 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. James Harden, on the other hand, had a weak evening on the offensive as in game two of the series and only hit three of his 14 throws from the field.