What must Suns do to force Game 7 vs. Nuggets? The Republic's writers have their say
On the brink.
That pretty much sums up the situation for the Phoenix Suns, down 3-2 in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets.
Game 6 is back in Phoenix at Footprint Center, at 7 p.m. If the Suns can win and tie the series, Game 7 will be in Denver on Sunday.
So what will it take for the Suns to win Game 6 at home Thursday? Here's what The Arizona Republic's writers who have been covering the playoffs say:
For Suns, it's Booker and Durant or bust
There’s an adage that says role players perform better at home than they do on the road.
That’s been true in the second-round series between the Suns and Nuggets, helping the home team win every game.
If that trend continues, Phoenix should win Game 6 on Thursday without much hassle.
But there are no guarantees in elimination games. The Nuggets, holding a 3-2 series lead, will be motivated to close out the Suns in Phoenix to get ready for the winner of the Lakers-Warriors series.
This isn’t a time to rely on the reserves.
Phoenix needs Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to be the best one-two punch this side of Muhammad Ali.
They combined for 86 points in Game 3. They combined for 72 points in Game 4. Can they have one of those kinds of nights Thursday?
The guess here is that they’ll need it, because strong bench play is important, but it won’t be enough to stave off elimination and force a Game 7.
—Greg Moore
Moore: Phoenix Suns couldn't do anything right against Denver Nuggets
Get Nuggets' Nikola Jokic in foul trouble
The Suns clearly haven’t had an answer for the two-time MVP.
Through five games, Nikola Jokic is averaging 35 points, 13.8 rebounds and 10 assists in this series.
He followed up a career playoff-best 53 points in Game 4 with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in leading the Nuggets to a Game 5 win.
There are two more key numbers for Jokic in this series — 38.6 and 11.
He’s averaging 38.6 minutes and has committed a total of 11 fouls in this series. The Suns have got to figure out a way to get him in foul trouble to force the hand of Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
Jokic has played all but three minutes and five seconds of the first quarter and committed a total of two fouls in the first quarter.
When a guy has it going like this, the only way to really stop him is to get him in foul trouble.
The Suns have got to figure that out, but Deandre Ayton isn’t a guy who initiates contact to get the whistle. He hasn’t made Jokic work on the other end. Now his ribs are bothering him after taking a knee from a driving Bruce Brown in Game 5.
Regardless, the Suns must get Jokic in foul trouble whether it’s in pick-and-roll, attacking him in the paint, taking charges or boxing him out to the point he reacts. They need to make him more of a spectator or it’s Nuggets in six.
—Duane Rankin
Win or go home: Suns facing elimination without answer for Nuggets' Nikola Jokic
The Suns bench needs to step up again
Phoenix's bench needs to show me a hero.
If Landry Shamet could do it for 19 points on five 3s in Game 4 at home, after his struggles earlier in this series, and Jock Landale can as well as a rebounder, then someone else among Monty Williams' four deep that he usually goes to can get it done as well.
Booker and Durant need to show up with the season on the line, as Greg said. But just like Malone said to the media before Game 5, he'd rather be beaten by someone else besides Booker if they're going to lose, just like when they brought "someone else to the party" in Game 4.
It's only right to have someone like Terrence Ross find his rhythm from the perimeter because he's incrementally scored better with more playing time since Game 3. That's especially since the Suns shot just 33% from the 3, and they'll need that to force a Game 7.
—Dana Scott
Rewind: Nuggets dominate Game 5, take 3-2 series lead over Suns
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Now or never: What Suns must do to force a Game 7 against Nuggets?
