The Denver Nuggets return to the floor tonight following a three day absence as they look to push their series lead over the Phoenix Suns to 3-0. If the Nuggets can win tonight they will put a firm grip on this series with the hopes of reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2020 when they faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the bubble.
Denver may play the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals again this year, but in order to get there they have to get past the Suns first. The Nuggets have looked like the better team in the first two games of the series, but anything can happen as the Suns have had three days off to make adjustments with hopes of coming back in the series. Phoenix will playing short handed though as Chris Paul will miss game three with a groin injury he suffered last game. Without Paul, the Suns lose their floor general, which puts a lot more pressure on players like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Booker has been really solid in the first two games of the series, while Durant struggled to shoot — especially from three — in game two. For the Nuggets, they’ll look to get Jamal Murray back on track following a tough shooting performance in game two. It was uncharacteristic for Murray to play that bad — especially in the playoffs — so look for him to redeem himself tonight with the hopes of Denver picking up a big time win.
The Essentials
Who: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (game three, Nuggets lead 2-0)
When: 8:00 p.m. MST
Where: Footprint Center
How to watch/listen: ESPN. Show up in Denver. 92.5 FM KKSE Altitude Sports Radio
Expected Starting Lineups:
PHX: PG Cameron Payne, SG Devin Booker, SF Torrey Craig, PF Kevin Durant, C DeAndre Ayton
DEN: PG Jamal Murray, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Michael Porter Jr., PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokic
Injuries: Collin Gillespie (leg) OUT, Chris Paul (groin) OUT
