USA Today via Reuters
Jun 1, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (left) celebrates with Chris Paul against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 1, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (left) celebrates with Chris Paul against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nikola Jokic received his MVP honor in the middle of the WC semifinal series between Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. Ideally, it should’ve boosted his team’s morale for the battle royale, but that didn’t happen. Playing in the absence of star point guard Jamal Murray, the Nuggets went 0-3 in a blink of an eye.
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A 51-win Suns team, that is riding high after knocking out the defending champions in Lakers, have gotten scarier. With a highly efficient starting five, the valley is full of talent and depth that a Nuggets side is facing difficulty combating. Can the results change when they meet in Game 4?
Nuggets vs Suns: Injury update and lineup prediction
USA Today via Reuters
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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For the Nuggets, Jamal Murray’s ACL injury already showed him the exit door a couple of months back. Plus, they have shooting guard PJ Dozier as a day-to-day decision for the very crucial game.
Probable starting lineup – Jae Crowder (F), Mikal Bridges (F), De’Andre Ayton (C), Devin Booker (G), and Chris Paul
The Suns, as has been the case in the entire season, have no health issues. Apart from small forward Abdel Nader (Knee), they’re perfectly well. By now, even Chris Paul has recovered from his shoulder soreness from Round 1.
Potential starting five – Aaron Gordon (F), Michael Porter Jr (F), Nikola Jokic (C), Austin Rivers (G), and Facundo Campazzo
Read more – Top 3 Destinations for Chris Paul in the Upcoming 2021 NBA Free Agency
Who wins?
In the series until now, the Suns have averaged 120.33 points against the Nuggets’ meager 101.66. Until now, except for Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 26 points in the series, none of the Nugget has 20+ ppg as his average. Aaron Gordon and Austin Rivers have combined just 46 points in the three games, making them the least efficient starters in the team. So clearly, they’re missing the playoff seriousness of Jamal Murray and also dealing with the inconsistency of their rotation players.
On the other hand, the Suns are soaring with a starting lineup, of which all the five players are averaging in double figures. Chris Paul, who was in the MVP conversation, has suddenly taken the scoring responsibility apart from the playmaking that he was already nailing. De’Andre Ayton, averaging a double-double in NBA playoffs 2021, is boasting a field goal percentage of 72.9. Plus, the combo forward in Jae Crowder is using his athleticism to further help Devin Booker in getting some space to score.
All in all, the Suns are unstoppable and hence we predict Game 4 will end the series.
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