With 5 weeks left within the common season, the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets are battling for playoff positioning. Whereas Denver is jockeying for the second general seed within the Western Convention, Phoenix is combating for its postseason life.
The Suns sit outdoors the play-in match with 20 video games left, and each a kind of is a chance to achieve floor, beginning on the Nuggets on Friday night time.
Phoenix received two of three video games, the newest in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers after they rallied from 23 down. The victory was overshadowed by star Kevin Durant exchanging heated phrases with coach Mike Budenholzer in entrance of the Suns bench in the course of the recreation, which Durant downplayed after the actual fact.
“He permits me as a participant on the group, a veteran on the group, to voice my opinion,” Durant mentioned postgame. “If we each did not care, we might by no means have stuff like that. … That exhibits that me and Bud actually care about attempting to proper this ship and attempting to win basketball video games.”
The 6-foot-11 energy ahead was instrumental within the comeback with 34 factors, and Durant leads Phoenix in scoring at 26.9 factors per recreation. Devin Booker is second (25.9 ppg) and Bradley Beal rounds out the highest three (17.6).
Friday kicks off a crucial four-game street journey in opposition to groups forward of the Suns within the standings. It is also the final of 4 video games between them and Denver, with the Nuggets successful two of the primary three, together with one at Phoenix on Feb. 8.
Durant missed that loss with an ankle damage, and the Suns missed his 25-point common over two appearances in opposition to Denver this season.
The Nuggets are banged up heading into the matchup. Reserve guard Julian Strawther will miss not less than 4 weeks with a left knee sprain and Aaron Gordon has sat out the final three video games with a left ankle sprain.
Denver did get Peyton Watson again from his proper knee damage within the win over Sacramento on Wednesday night time. He scored two factors in 16 minutes in his first recreation since Jan. 31.
“It felt good to be again, felt good to go on the market and assist the group win the sport,” mentioned Watson, who leads the group in blocks with 1.2 per recreation. “Positively some rust to knock off. I’m not one for excuses. I’m right here to assist us get wins and assist us win video games. That’s my position on this group. I need to be higher on Friday.”
The Nuggets obtained a lift from their bench in Wednesday’s win and a giant carry from Russell Westbrook, who began rather than Gordon. He had 25 factors and is averaging 12.9 factors a recreation, tied with Gordon for fifth, and can also be tied with Jamal Murray for second in assists with 6.1 per recreation
Jokic leads the group in scoring (28.8 ppg), rebounds (12.8) and assists (10.4) — inserting him within the NBA’s high three in every class. Murray is second in scoring at 21.4 factors a recreation and Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 18.4 factors.
–Area Stage Media
