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Nikola Jokic had a triple-double after making up with Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia and Michael Porter Jr. sank 5 3-pointers to assist the Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix 118-102 on Tuesday evening in Recreation 5 to regain the sequence lead.
Joker had 29 factors, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his tenth profession playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for many by a middle in NBA history.
Game 6 is Thursday night in Phoenix. The house staff has gained each sport within the sequence. If that holds true once more, the decisive winner-take-all conflict will come Sunday again in Denver, the place the top-seeded Nuggets personal the NBA’s greatest house document at 39-7, together with 5-0 within the playoffs.
After Denver misplaced two straight at Phoenix, Nuggets coach Michael Malone devised a five-point plan for the Nuggets to regain management of the sequence: patch up their transition protection, gradual Devin Booker, get extra from his bench, unleash MPJ and knock down open 3s.
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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Deandre Ayton #2 of the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Might 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)
Porter bounced again from a foul evening in Recreation 4 with 19 factors on 5-of-8 taking pictures from lengthy vary. Denver outscored Phoenix 31-23 in fast-break factors; Booker scored 28 factors however missed 11 of 19 pictures; Bruce Brown boosted the Nuggets’ bench with 25 factors and the Nuggets sank 13 of 27 from lengthy vary.
Kevin Durant chipped in 26 factors for Phoenix.
The Nuggets turned a three-point halftime lead right into a 91-74 cushion with a dominant third quarter wherein Jokic made seven of eight pictures for 17 factors and Booker was simply 1-for-8 for 3 factors.
The chippiness of the sequence reached a brand new stage within the remaining minute of the third quarter when Nuggets swingman Brown antagonized the Suns as they huddled up on the courtroom and Durant gave Jokic a forearm shiver. A double technical was assessed on Durant and Brown.
Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets lays in a basket towards the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Might 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)
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Earlier than the sport, Jokic shared a heat pregame embrace — and the basketball — with Ishbia 48 hours after their kerfuffle over a free ball in Phoenix in Recreation 4 resulted in a technical foul and a $25,000 nice for the Nuggets massive man.
“I hoped he was going to pay my nice,” Jokic cracked after the sport.
The Nuggets jumped out to an early 14-point lead however the Suns trailed simply 52-49 at halftime, and the sport may need been tied had Booker’s practically halfcourt heave left his arms only a tick sooner.
STAR SCARES
The Suns bought a scare with 2.4 seconds left within the first quarter when Booker turned his left ankle after getting fouled by Jeff Inexperienced on an tried layup. A number of minutes later, the Nuggets bought their very own scare when Murray turned his proper ankle and walked round gingerly, shaking it off to remain within the sport.
Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets places up a shot towards Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns within the first quarter throughout Recreation 5 of the NBA Western Convention Semifinals at Ball Area on Might 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)
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Suns: Phoenix surrendered the primary 9 factors of the sport earlier than Cameron Payne’s lengthy 3-pointer on the 9:33 mark. … Seated courtside alongside Ishbia was Michigan State soccer coach Mel Tucker, derisively recognized in a lot of Colorado as “Midnight Mel” for his departure from the Buffaloes job solely hours after telling boosters he was in Boulder to remain.
Nuggets: This marked the primary sport within the sequence that the chief after one quarter held on to win the sport. … The Nuggets held the Suns and not using a level for greater than 2 minutes in every of the primary three quarters and Phoenix’s first bucket within the fourth quarter got here on the 10:16 mar on a bucket by Durant.
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