The Phoenix Suns faced off against the Denver Nuggets for Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Suns looked to add another win under their belt while the Nuggets aimed to even the series with the win.
But the Nuggets failed to get the win over the Suns once again.
The Suns defeated the Nuggets 123-98 behind the brilliant performance from star guard Chris Paul on Wednesday night.
Paul came up with an incredible stat, making records to give the Suns another win.
Six players of the Suns scored in double digits but none of the players reached 20 points. Despite that, the Suns came up with a win at the end.
The Suns dominated the Nuggets throughout the four quarters, taking the lead in the first quarter and extending the lead the rest of the quarter, and ultimately winning the game in the end.
Nikola Jokic, who recently got the Kia MVP award led the Nuggets while only three players managed to score in double figures.
The Suns take the lead in the first half.
They were 12-15 with the Suns taking a three-point lead over halfway into the quarter as Deandre Ayton dropped a hook shot on Chris Paul‘s pass.
Nikola Jokic found JaMychal Green underneath the rim for a dunk and passed to Will Barton for another dunk on the next possession.
As a result, they were 18-22 with 2:46 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The quarter ended 25-21 with the Suns in the lead entering the second quarter.
The Suns continued to dominate the Nuggets, taking a five-point lead over a minute into the second quarter.
Paul provided Dario Saric with the ball for a one-handed slam.
They were 32-25 with 8:41 remaining in the second quarter as Torrey Craig blocked Monte Morris from behind.
And Dario Saric dropped a three-pointer on the other end on Paul’s pass.
Torrey Craig chasedown.
Chris Paul to Dario Saric for 3.The building is ROCKIN' in Phoenix! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/8P8o4YJJbJ
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2021
Nikola Jokic dropped a jumper, cutting the Phoenix lead to five points with 4:23 remaining in the quarter.
Devin Booker came up with a steal from Jokic and dropped a dunk in transition as the Suns go 44-34 against the Nuggets with under three minutes left.
While Paul came up with an alley-oop to Ayton for a layup and the Suns taking an eight-point lead.
The second quarter ended 52-42 with the Suns taking 10 point lead.
The Nuggets had no answer for the Suns’ game.
The Suns dominated the Nuggets, going 57-43 and taking a 14 point lead early in the third quarter.
As Jae Crowder knocked down a three-pointer and Ayton dropped a dunk on Paul’s alley-oop.
The Suns then extended their lead to 19 points with 7:01 remaining in the quarter.
Paul extending the lead again as he knocked down a jumper.
Mikal Bridge knocked down a one-handed dunk on Paul’s pass, going 78-58 with over three minutes left.
SHOOK THE WHOLE ARENA!
Sheesh @mikal_bridges! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ozDt27Azaz
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 10, 2021
Cameron Payne knocked down a three-pointer at the final 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Subsequently, the quarter ended 86-68, the Suns taking 18 points advantage into the final quarter.
The Suns never looked back.
The Nuggets continued to lack behind as the Suns took 21 point advantage in the early two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Paul passed the ball to Craig for a layup and Craig drew a foul, dropping a bucket on the next possession.
They were 99-75 with 8:40 remaining in the quarter as Paul knocked down a three-pointer.
CHRIS. PAUL. IS. TAKING. OVER.
17 points.
15 assists.
0 turnovers.#ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/4UQbTXePPS— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2021
The Suns then took a 123-98 win at the end of the game.
The Nuggets had no answer for the amazing playmaking of Chris Paul and the Suns’ offensive plays.
As a result, the Suns dominated the Nuggets and took the win.
The loss was Denver’s largest of the season, and they’re now down 2-0 in the series.
Chris Paul’s incredible performance led the Suns.
The Suns got another win over the Nuggets behind Chris Paul‘s incredible playmaking performance.
Paul was all over the court tonight, dropping bucking, making plays, grabbing rebounds.
“I’m feel good, I feel really good,” Paul said. “I missed some easy ones early, but the way that we play, the ball is going to find you.”
He finished the night with 17 points and 15 assists double-doubles along with five rebounds without any turnover, going 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from the three-point line, and 3 of 3 from free throws.
🔥 17 PTS, 15 AST, 0 TOV for @CP3 🔥
Chris Paul becomes the first player in @NBAHistory to reach 15 assists with 0 turnovers three separate times in the #NBAPlayoffs! #ThatsGame @Suns seek 3-0 series lead on Friday at 10 PM ET on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/uixM2u9g5O
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2021
As a result, he now becomes the first player with 15 points and 15 assists with 0 turnovers in a playoff game since 2014.
In fact, he was the one who did the dame in 2014 and also before that in 2008.
This marks his 3rd time to have a playoff game with 15+ assists and 0 turnovers, breaking a tie with Magic Johnson for the most since 1980.
Paul’s playmaking helped the Suns’ players to get the win.
In addition, Paul passed Magic Johnson to become the player with most playoff games with 15+ assists and 0 turnovers.
“To be named with a guy like Magic, that’s legendary,” Booker said as Paul passed Magic Johnson. “That’s forever.”
Other players with 15+ assists and 0 turnovers in an #NBAPlayoffs game (since TOs became a recorded stat in 1977-78):
Magic Johnson (twice)
Rajon Rondo
Jason Kidd
Robert Reid
Johnny Moore
Norm Nixon https://t.co/f0dK0d44uL— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 10, 2021
He added, “That’s bigger than the game of basketball. That’s an icon.”
Thanks to Paul’s playmaking, five of the other Suns’ players, scored in double figures.
Devin Booker led the Suns’ scorers, dropping 18 points and 10 rebounds double-double along with 2 assists.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Booker said about the fan reactions throughout the game. “Even Deandre (Ayton) coming to me and being like, ‘man, we seen it when it was,’ and I tell him every time, ‘I’ve seen it before you were here, also.”
While Mikal Bridges dropped 16 points with 2 rebounds.
Followed by Deandre Ayton, who scored 15 points and 10 rebounds double-double.
Jae Crowder dropped 11 points with 5 rebounds.
As a result, all the starters scored in double-figures.
“Book scores in his sleep. Jae is never phased by anything. Mikal is like our unsung hero. DA guards, he runs, he rebounds, he does everything,” Paul said about his teammates.
Meanwhile, Torrey Craig led the Suns’ bench, scoring 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
“We’re just trying to play the right way for each other,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “We try to play hard every single night. That’s who we are. That’s our DNA. Our guys share the ball. I think the thing that’s really cool to watch is guys making plays for each other. This is playoff basketball and that’s how we have to play to be successful.”
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets.
On one hand, the Suns had most member scoring in double figures while the Nuggets had only four players with a score in double figures.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets and scored 24 points and 13 rebounds with 6 assists.
While the rest of the Nuggets starters combined for 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Michael Porter Jr contributed 11 points with 6 rebounds and was the only other starter to score in double-figures.
Meanwhile, Paul Millsap led the Nuggets’ bench with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
While Will Barton dropped 10 points with a rebound and 3 assists.
The Nuggets now host the Suns for Game 3 on Friday in Denver, aiming to cut the lead 2-1.
