In the recent Game 5 between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets, tensions were high as Kevin Durant aggressively shoved Nikola Jokic. The incident occurred late in the third quarter when Jokic and Nuggets guard Bruce Brown attempted to sneak into the Suns’ team huddle.
Durant quickly pushed Brown away, who then retreated to the other side. Jokic, on the other hand, was swiped away by Jock Landale before Durant shoved him with his forearm on his chest. Jokic then flopped, similar to Suns owner Mat Ishbiah in Game 4, and a technical foul was called on both Durant and Brown.
Despite the incident, Jokic and the Nuggets managed to come back and win the game, after losing two consecutive road games against the Suns. Jokic led his team in scoring, rebounds, and assists, registering a 29-13-12 triple-double, and becoming the fourth player in playoff history to record four triple-doubles in the first 10 games of a postseason, joining the likes of legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson.
For the Suns, Booker and Durant combined for 54 points, with Ayton scoring 14 points and making nine rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Suns were unable to secure the win and will face the Nuggets again in Game 6 at the Footprint Center on Thursday night.
Nuggets Take Commanding Lead over Kevin Durant Suns in NBA Playoffs: Can Phoenix Stage a Comeback?
In a crucial Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Denver Nuggets took a commanding 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to clinch a 3-2 series advantage against the Phoenix Suns. With the win, Denver has successfully protected their home court and will head to Phoenix for Game 6, with the opportunity to seal the series and advance to the Conference Finals.
Despite struggling to get past the Nuggets’ defense and shooting inefficiently, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant remain a potent duo for the Suns. As the home team is yet to lose a game in the series, the Suns have a real chance to stage a comeback in Game 6 and force a decisive Game 7.
The stakes are high for both teams, as the winner of this series is expected to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals unless the Lakers blow a 3-1 lead against the Golden State Warriors. The NBA playoffs are heating up, and the Western Conference Semifinals are certainly not short of drama and excitement.
