![]() ![]() The Suns will likely want to keep Paul away from Murray on defense - probably stashing him on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Jokic is Denver's best player, but Murray might be the toughest individual riddle for the Suns' defense - at least in terms of individual matchups. Murray is back, scorching again in the postseason: 27 points on 47% shooting, raining step-back fire and working with Jokic in a one-of-a-kind staccato pick-and-roll partnership. Durant and Jokic have not played against each other since May 2021. There is almost no relevant film to go on. On the flip side, the Paul-Booker-Ayton trio has logged substantially more minutes than the Murray-Jokic-Aaron Gordon-Michael Porter Jr. ![]() ![]() Murray and Jokic have more shared sweat equity than any major pairing here. It's tempting to frame this series as team continuity against a quick-fix superstar conglomerate, and there is some truth in that. This is their best team of the Jokic era. The Nuggets have reached further than this with Jokic once - in 2020, when they lost in the conference finals. Sneeze at that if you'd like, but keep in mind the Clippers and Brooklyn Nets have won four series combined in four seasons after their respective offseason splashes in 2019. This is Denver's fourth conference semifinals appearance in five seasons it has won five playoff series in that span. This season, they exchanged an ascendent potential All-Star in Mikal Bridges and other key pieces to pair Kevin Durant with Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton. The Suns came two wins short of the title in 2021, then flamed out in this round against the Dallas Mavericks in 2022 after winning 64 games. The two teams meet again in the same round, but with greater stakes and star power. The Nuggets' season - a gutsy trudge to the conference semifinals without Jamal Murray and other rotation players - was over. Referees assessed Jokic a flagrant foul 2, and ejected him. Perhaps the lowest point of the Nikola Jokic era - and low is a relative term amid sustained high-level success - came two postseasons ago in this same round against this same opponent: With the short-handed Nuggets down 3-0 against the Phoenix Suns and bleeding points, Jokic, frustrated at a non-call, wound up and swung hard to dislodge the ball from Cameron Payne - making contact across Payne's face.ĭevin Booker confronted Jokic. Booker: Here's everything you need to know about Suns-Nuggets You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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