'Insane' performance from newly-crowned MVP Nikola Jokic not enough to rescue Denver Nuggets
The Phoenix Suns have one foot in the Western Conference Finals after taking a commanding 3-0 lead despite an insane performance from newly-crowned NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Devin Booker and Suns spoiled Jokic's MVP celebration with a 116-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 that put the reeling Nuggets on the brink of a quick second-round exit.
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Booker scored 28 points and teamed with Chris Paul to lead a steady offensive onslaught that countered Jokic's gaudy triple-double of 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists.
“I’m frustrated with myself because I missed shots,” said Jokic, who shot just 13 for 29.
“I didn’t play on top of my game, especially shooting wise. It would be much easier for us if I started making shots. Of course, they’re making it tough for me to make shots.”
Despite being hounded by defenders all night, Jokic still put up a ridiculous 32-20-10 stat line in the loss Getty
Jokic has been matched up with former No.1 pick Deandre Ayton throughout the series and Ayton was left stunned by the Serbians final stat line from the contest.
"Jokic had - he had 20 rebounds!" Ayton exclaimed.
"10 offensive rebounds, 10 - that's inane. Yeah, that's insane, and 10 assists. I did not know that, that's amazing. Yep, he the MVP."
Despite Jokic's heroics, Denver did not get enough from his teammates, with back-up guard Monte Morris the Nuggets' next best scorer with 21 points.
Paul continued to show he has overcome the nagging shoulder injury that hampered him in the first round, finishing with 27 points, eight assists and three steals for the Suns, who pulled away after halftime for the third straight time. All five of Phoenix's starters scored in double figures.
Chris Paul put on another masterful showing for the Suns, finishing with 27 points and eight assists in the win Getty
They are a win away from their first trip to the Western Conference Finals since 2009-10 — which was the last time Phoenix made the playoffs.
The third-seeded Nuggets, who reached the conference finals last year, are on the brink of getting swept in a playoff series for the first time since the Lakers bounced them out of the first round in 2007-08.
Jokic would be the first league MVP to be swept in a series since Magic Johnson in the 1980 NBA Playoffs if the Nuggets go down in Game 4 on Monday AEST.
The 26-year-old dedicated his MVP award to his teammates during a raucous pregame ceremony that Nuggets coach Michael Malone had hoped would energize his team that's lost by 17, 25 and now 14 points.
Jokic hoisted his MVP trophy in front of a packed Denver crowd prior to the tip-off Getty
“I just feel bad that we weren’t able to pull out a win for them because they made this atmosphere electric,” Malone said of the crowd of 18,277.
Suns coach Monty Williams said his team was ready for the energy boost the big crowd supplied by serenading Jokic.
“We expected it,” Williams said. "We respect what Jokic has done this season. We knew he was going to get the trophy. We were fighting a lot of things but because we have veteran guys who have been in a ton of situations — Chris (Paul) and Jae (Crowder) — those guys were galvanizing the guys before jump ball, like, ‘Let’s go, we’re here for business.’
“We didn’t want to disrespect Jokic’s moment. At the same time, we also came here to win a game. That’s something we stressed for a while, being able to have poise in those moments. Whether it’s an emotional fouling situation or something like tonight, which is a pretty unique situation.”
