Jamal Murray scores 34, Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix Suns 125-107 in Sport 1

As if the Nuggets level guard even wanted to. His play was already rocking the world.

Murray scored 34 factors, hitting six of Denver’s 16 3-pointers, and the Nuggets sprinted previous the Phoenix Suns 125-107 on Saturday evening in Sport 1 of their second-round collection.

“He’s a foul man,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned.

Any response to that adulation?

“Thanks?” Murray mentioned. “Admire it. … I’m simply taking part in my recreation. … I’m doing no matter it takes to win.”

And perhaps present a nation that does not all the time get to observe the Nuggets — , as a result of they’re often on so late — what the gamers have identified all season: They’re gifted and worthy of their high seed within the Western Convention. They do not thoughts if the Suns, because the fourth seed, are the stylish choose to beat them, both.

“We’re going to maintain doing what we’re doing, preserve proving everyone fallacious,” Murray mentioned.

Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 24 factors and 19 rebounds, whereas Aaron Gordon completed with 23 factors. However this was the Murray Present, the place he went 6 of 10 from 3-point land and regularly exhorted for extra noise from the already raucous crowd.

“Let’s be honest, some of the shots he hit tonight I don’t think anybody could have stopped him,” Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned.

Kevin Durant scored 29 factors and grabbed 14 boards for the Suns, with Devin Booker including 27 factors and Chris Paul 11. Booker averaged 37.2 factors in a first-round collection win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I assumed that they have been simply extra bodily, performed with extra pressure,” Williams mentioned. “We’ve got to regroup and do a much better job of playing with pace on offense.”

Sport 2 is Monday evening in Denver.

It is a completely different kind of playoff collection than two years in the past, when the Suns swept the Nuggets within the second spherical. Again then, Denver was with out Murray after he tore his ACL.

Now wholesome, Murray is flashing his 2020 kind contained in the NBA bubble that helped Denver advance to the Western Convention finals.

“Jamal just continues to add to the legend of playoff Jamal,” Malone mentioned.

Murray had the play of the evening when he stole a cross, cut up defenders Paul and Durant at high pace and knocked in a layup excessive off the glass. It introduced the capability crowd to its ft.

The dynamic level guard was removed from finished energizing the followers, hitting a 3-pointer with just below 7 minutes remaining. He implored them for extra noise, even holding a hand to his ear.

Main 106-95 with 7:40 remaining, the Nuggets went on a 14-0 run to place away the sport. Denver led by as a lot as 25 and improved to 38-7 at dwelling by way of the common season and playoffs.

Durant lower off a query about whether or not he was stunned by the Nuggets.

As a result of he is not.

“They’re the No. 1 seed for a reason. They got a two-time MVP. They’ve got a deep team. I’m not surprised,” Durant mentioned. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

The distinction was the 3-point line, the place the Nuggets outscored the Suns by a 48-21 margin. That and turnovers, the place the Suns had 16, together with seven by Durant.

“I’ve got to be way more careful with the ball,” Durant mentioned. “I’ve to look to both shoot the ball or make the right cross. … I dang obtained close to half our turnovers. We’ll be high quality. I feel we have simply obtained to play with confidence, shoot with confidence and see what occurs subsequent recreation.”

TIP-INS

Suns: Williams used his problem early — with 55.4 seconds left within the first quarter — when Booker was referred to as for a cost on a made a basket. It paid off as the decision was overturned and Booker awarded a free throw, which he made. … Deandre Ayton scored 14 factors. … Durant has 4,730 playoff factors to maneuver nearer to passing Karl Malone (4,761) seventh place on the NBA’s postseason factors leaderboard.

Nuggets: Malone referred to as a timeout 32 seconds into the second half to settle his crew down. Malone mentioned the dialog was easy: “Wake up,” he recounted. … Bruce Brown had 14 factors.

PAUL PRAISE

As Paul approaches his thirty eighth birthday subsequent week, Malone mentioned the one factor that hasn’t modified through the years is Paul’s elite competitiveness.

“He’ll be 55 years old, playing in a rec league back in North Carolina, and he’s going to be the same guy,” Malone mentioned. “The guy hates to lose, ultra-competitive and one of the greatest leaders I’ve ever been around. … No matter what stage of his career, he still finds a way to impact winning at a high level.”