What must Phoenix Suns do to win Game 3 vs. Denver Nuggets? Here's what The Republic's writers say
The Phoenix Suns return to Footprint Center down 2-0 in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets. It doesn't overstate things to say Friday is a must-win game. So what will it take for the Suns to win Game 3? Here's what The Arizona Republic's writers who have been covering the playoffs say:
It comes down to Durant and Booker
With Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, offense is not supposed to be a problem for the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Except Durant has played far below his all-time great standards, and Paul is hurt, again.
The Suns are down 0-2 to the Nuggets as they return to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday. It’s not an elimination game, but it’s certainly do-or-die for Devin Booker and the Fellas. Durant turned the ball over seven times in Game 1. He followed that up by shooting 10 for 27, including 3 for 12 from 3-point range.
Paul, meanwhile, scored just 11 points in Game 1. And then, just when it looked like he was going to heat up to help the Suns put away Game 2, he got hurt. Again. Paul’s career has been marred by postseason injuries, and it looks like this is going to be yet another “if Chris Paul were healthy who knows what would have happened” type of year.
If Durant plays the way he’s played for most of the last 15 years and Booker matches his efficiency, the Suns should have enough heat to win Friday. Anything less than a stellar performance from those two brightest Suns is likely to lead to an 0-3 deficit.
— Greg Moore
Updates: Suns vs. Nuggets NBA playoffs news, notes
Cameron Payne needs to step up for Chris Paul
Chris Paul's 38th birthday is Saturday. Cameron Payne needs to be the gift on both ends of the floor in Game 3 on Friday now that Paul possibly can't give after he was sidelined with left groin tightness late in Game 2's third quarter.
Paul finished Game 2 with eight points, six assists, and five rebounds. That's something Cam can do to help run the offense with more minutes, and Williams said after Game 2 that Payne and Phoenix backup big Jock Landale "put a lot of pressure on the rim."
Payne averaged 9.3 points per game, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 19 minutes in the 2021 playoffs. But in Phoenix's seven postseason games, he's been limited to just four minutes and produced 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds.
Stepping up the pace and scoring would be a potential reprisal of Payne stepping up for Paul after he suffered a stinger in his shoulder during the first round in the 2021 playoffs when Phoenix made its finals run.
— Dana Scott
Suns update: Chris Paul ruled out for Game 3 with left groin strain
Defend, close a close one
Phoenix’s bench was considered a weak link even before the playoffs began, but four points in Game 2 on 2-of-16 shooting (0-for-9 from 3) just won’t cut it against a good team, let alone a really good one like Denver.
The Suns got away with it to a large degree against the short-handed Clippers, who were without injured Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but the Nuggets are not only healthy, they have a tight eight-man rotation.
Within that rotation, Aaron Gordon can play the five. Nuggets coach Michael Malone has executed the game plan of playing Durant physical with multiple bodies and having his team contest shots.
Booker and Durant are missing some easy ones, but the Nuggets are forcing those two to go into their offensive bag and basically saying to the rest of the Suns that they can’t beat them.
Phoenix must counter that with a game plan that involves finding combinations that best match up with Denver.
Suns coach Monty Williams has been searching for guys instead of having a game plan that helps a certain group play better for longer stretches. He believes they've found an offensive formula of "run an action and kick it," but when Denver adjusts, how the Suns counter will be huge.
Williams talks about defense, but he has an offensive team.
He has three days to convince the Suns they’re not going to outscore Denver. Phoenix has the two best scorers, but Denver has more guys who can score and truly understand their roles.
They say defense wins championships. Phoenix must dig in, play it and believe that in a close game late, Durant and Booker will deliver with help from Ayton and Paul, if he’s able to go.
— Duane Rankin
Takeaways: Suns must turn series around or face 'Nuggets in 4' after Game 2 loss
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What must Phoenix Suns do to win Game 3 vs. Denver Nuggets?
