Nikola Jokic’s 39-point masterclass gives Nuggets 2-0 lead over Suns - The Denver Post

No amount of lipstick could mask the ugliness of Monday night’s Game 2, save for a fourth quarter that was plenty pretty for the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic danced and dazzled his way to 39 points, and Denver’s defense clamped down on the Suns’ bevy of superstars.

Together, the Nuggets seized control of this second-round series with an emphatic 97-87 win over Phoenix. Up 2-0, the Nuggets have several days to marinate on the sweetness of Monday’s victory before Friday’s Game 3.

“Tonight was ugly, but I don’t mind ugly,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.

Despite an awful shooting night from Jamal Murray (3 for 15 for 10 points) and an uglier night from Michael Porter Jr. (2 of 7 for five points), the Nuggets survived on the strength of their MVP and their defense. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came in clutch with three dagger 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Devin Booker poured in 35 points before going chest-to-chest with Bruce Brown late in the game, his frustration boiling over. Kevin Durant drained 24, but it took him 27 shots to get there. The Suns managed just 14 points, total, in the fourth quarter.

Thanks to Jokic, the Nuggets dominated the paint 48-30. By the end of the raucous night, Ball Arena was screaming “Nugs in four,” in homage to Phoenix’s infamous chant from two postseasons ago when the Suns swept Denver.

The third-quarter rims thawed for the Suns before they did for the Nuggets. Chris Paul carved his way into a handful of mid-range jumpers, and Booker worked his way to the elbow on a couple occasions as well. With little else working offensively, Jokic got aggressive.

His combination of power, balance and (gasp) athleticism kept Deandre Ayton off balance and the Nuggets with at least one consistent source of offense. His work inside kept the Nuggets within a few possessions even as the Suns threatened to stretch it. When a Murray 3-pointer rattled out, he put his hands to his head in exasperation. And once he checked out, Malone tossed his arm around his star guard, encouraging him on a rare off night. Denver finally got an easy basket in transition — a Jokic to Porter breakaway dunk — but everything felt like a struggle.

Jokic, though, seized the opening. He scored 18 of the Nuggets’ 30 points in the quarter, helping to combat Booker’s rising confidence. By the time his run was over, it was a 73-70 Phoenix lead heading into the fourth.

Malone didn’t have to think hard when asked what needed to be cleaned up following Denver’s Game 1 win.

“Transition, first and foremost,” he said before the game. “…The funny thing is after that game, they were all saying they have to play faster. We have to have our track shoes on tonight and make sure we’re getting back, make, miss, or turnover. Make the ball see a crowd. … Number two would be the paint. They had 60 in our paint. Part of that was in transition, but then even in the halfcourt, we know that Kevin Durant and Devin Booker will be ultra-aggressive tonight.”

Malone wanted to turn Game 2 into a math equation.

“Tough twos don’t beat us over 48 minutes,” he said.

That sentiment was assuming Denver’s offense was firing. It was the opposite of that in the first half. Considering all the star power on the court, it was actually amazing how little rhythm there was, for either side, over the first two quarters as Phoenix took a 42-40 lead into halftime.

Outside of Booker, who connected on three 3-pointers, and Jokic, whose aggression kept Denver’s offense afloat, the first half was an ugly slog of physicality and defense. Murray and Porter combined for six points on 2-for-12 shooting, while Durant was harassed into a 4-of-13 stretch that saw excellent contests from Gordon and Christian Braun.

Jokic drained an early 3-pointer then went to work all over the paint. The only problem with his aggression, from a Nuggets’ perspective, was that he generally prefers getting his teammates involved before hunting for his own offense. Given the apparent lids on the rims, that wasn’t an option for the reigning two-time MVP.

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