The Denver Nuggets dominated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 on Thursday, winning 125-100 to advance to the Western Conference finals. Here’s what you need to know:
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Jokić continues postseason dominance
Simply put, the Nuggets look like a team capable of winning an NBA title. Jokić has been the single best player in the league during the postseason. The Nuggets are deep and balanced and athletic and smart. This is a team that doesn’t have many weaknesses.
Eventually, the Suns just ran out of answers for Denver. They couldn’t match the depth. They couldn’t guard Jokić. They couldn’t guard Jamal Murray.
This will be Denver’s first conference finals appearance since 2020. But this feels different. It wasn’t an upset like the 2020 run. This is a team in the prime of a championship window. — Jones
Denver rides big first half to Game 6 win
The Nuggets didn’t play well in Phoenix in Games 3 and 4, but lost those two games by a combined 12 points. Internally, the Nuggets thought they had given away multiple opportunities to still come up with a road win.
Thursday night, a 17-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters gave Denver a 44-26 advantage and essentially ended the Suns’ season. Denver coach Michael Malone said it was an example of the Nuggets’ mentality heading into Game 6.
“We wanted to be the aggressors,” Malone said. “We didn’t want to have to counterpunch.”
Denver was dominant for most of the night. As a result, the Nuggets earn four days off, in prep for the next series. — Jones
Should Monty Williams be in trouble?
Last season, Dallas crushed Phoenix in a Western Conference semifinals playoff elimination game. This season, Denver did the same.
Since he took over, new owner Mat Ishbia has promised not to make knee-jerk decisions, but this might make him consider Monty Williams’ future in the desert. Ishbia traded for Kevin Durant in February to position the Suns for a championship. This is not what he had in mind.
Williams has played a major role in elevating the organization. He took the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. Last year he led the Suns to a franchise record for wins and was named NBA Coach of the Year. But new owners often have their own ideas.
And Thursday’s flop may have just given Ishbia something to think about. — Haller
Was the Durant trade a mistake?
This will be brought up a million times over the offseason. It’s actually already started. The short answer: No.
The Suns made the right call in trading for Durant. Even though it shortened their bench. Even though the price was steep. Teaming Durant with Devin Booker, Paul and Ayton was a move designed to position Phoenix for its first championship. It was a gamble worth taking.
In hindsight, everyone was a bit too blinded by Durant’s star power. He played with the Suns for only eight games? No problem! They’ll figure it out. He’ll have to play 40-plus minutes every night in the playoffs? No problem! He can do it.
Despite putting up decent numbers, Durant never looked comfortable against Denver. He never found an offensive rhythm. It didn’t work out. Provided the Suns improve their roster, that doesn’t mean it will not next season. — Haller
Backstory
Jokić finishes this series off notching three triple-doubles on the Suns and now holds the most of any center in NBA postseason history with 11 in total. The Nuggets maximized Jokić’s performance, taking advantage of a Suns team that looked listless without starters Paul and Ayton.
Cam Payne scored a playoff career-high 31 points, six rebounds and two assists, shooting 7-for-9 from 3-point range. Durant added 23 points, five rebounds and five assists on 8-of-19 shooting from the field. Booker, who averaged 35.9 points entering Thursday, managed 12 points and eight assists, shooting 4-of-13 from the field.
Required reading
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
Nuggets advance to Western Conference finals: Denver’s big first half, Jokić’s dominance power Game 6 win - The Athletic
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