Nuggets lean on Nikola Jokic to grab 3-2 series lead vs. Suns

Nikola Jokic had 29 factors, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, Bruce Brown scored 25 factors off the bench and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 118-102 in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal sequence on Tuesday evening.

Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray every scored 19 factors and Aaron Gordon completed with 10 for the Nuggets, who lead the best-of-seven sequence 3-2.

Game 6 is Thursday evening in Phoenix.

Kevin Durant had 26 factors and 11 rebounds, Devin Booker scored 28 factors and Deandre Ayton added 14 factors and 9 rebounds for the Suns.

After an in depth first half, Denver took management in a chippy third quarter. The Nuggets went forward 69-53 with a 17-4 run to open the second half and saved rising their benefit. Two free throws by Murray and a floater within the lane and a finger roll by Jokic made it 77-57 with 4:46 left within the interval.

The Suns obtained inside 17 and had an opportunity to chop the deficit additional, however a Murray steal led to a 6-2 run and an 89-68 lead late within the third.

Things obtained heated with 37.6 seconds left within the third when Brown and Jokic had been hovering close to the Phoenix huddle and Durant elbowed Jokic, who flailed again.

Brown and Durant had been every assessed a technical foul.

Denver took a 91-74 lead into the fourth quarter, after which went on a right away run to primarily put the sport away.

Brown hit a 3-pointer and cut up a pair of free throws and Murray drained a 28-foot trey to place the Nuggets forward 98-74. The Suns scored six straight factors to get again inside 18, however Brown hit two free throws, Murray banked in a 12-footer and Christian Braun had a steal and a dunk to make it 104-80 with 7:48 left.

Booker hit a 3-pointer, however Jokic fed Gordon for an alley-oop dunk, giving Jokic his tenth help of the evening and fourth triple-double of the postseason.

The Nuggets led 35-20 late within the first quarter however Phoenix rallied to take its solely lead at 48-47 late within the second on a Terrence Ross 3-pointer. Denver went into halftime up 52-49.

–Field Level Media/Reuters