There’s a sense of realization for the Phoenix Suns after battling the Denver Nuggets in Game 4. Much of the thought-out criticism for Phoenix can be put to bed.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Much of the gaps that divided the Suns and Nuggets looked to be neutralized on Sunday. Devin Booker and Durant appeared unstoppable.
On top of that, one unlikely player stepped up to help the Suns’ advances.
At the end, the team with more solid effort was awarded the win. The Suns have evened the series at 2-2, beating the Nuggets 129-124.
Suns Find the Missing Piece
For much of the regular season, and going into the postseason, head coach Monty Williams has been criticized for his rotations.
After acquiring Terrance Ross and T.J. Warren, those criticisms sharply rose. Both Warren and Ross received little to no playing time during the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.
On Sunday, there was a healthy dose of both players. Yet even with both of them having an impact, Landry Shamet clearly stole the night.
Shamet had a decent game for the most part, but his takeover came swiftly in the fourth quarter. The 6’4″ guard went on a scoring spree from three-point range. He finished the outing with 19 points, shooting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Whether or not Shamet’s impressive marksmanship becomes a normality in the series remains to be seen. Even so, credit is due to the entire bench for stepping up when depth became the outlier against Denver.
Booker and Durant: The Ultimate Duo
The talk of superstar duos is everchanging, especially in the playoffs. Now, however, it appears that Booker and Durant have put their stamp on the title.
The two scoring conductors put on a spectacle in Game 4.
Booker continued his scoring brilliance with 36 points on 14-of-18 shooting, furthering his efficient scoring. To add to it, he notched 12 assists and six rebounds. Booker practically carried the Suns in Game 3, but he had an equally efficient night from his co-star.
Durant went off for 36 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the field. It was a major uptick in his shot selection from Game 3 in which he went 12-of-31. To add to it, Durant grabbed 11 rebounds and six assists.
The two in Durant and Booker were able to achieve the ultimate peaks of their respective games tonight. The real question becomes a scale of continuity going forward more.
If so, the title pursuits will continue to go in the Suns’ favor.
Costly mistakes and lapses in judgement ruined the Nuggets chances as time winded down in the fourth quarter. Now, with a 2-2 even series, Phoenix will have a chance to take the lead in Game 5.
