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 total seed within the Western Convention, Phoenix is combating for its postseason life.
The Suns sit outdoors the play-in event with 20 video games left, and each a kind of is a chance to realize floor, beginning on the Nuggets on Friday night time.
Phoenix received two of three video games, the most recent 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 throughout the sport, which Durant downplayed after the actual fact.
“He permits me as a participant on the staff, a veteran on the staff, to voice my opinion,” Durant stated postgame. “If we each did not care, we might by no means have stuff like that. … That reveals 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 sport. Devin Booker is second (25.9 ppg) and Bradley Beal rounds out the highest three (17.6).
Friday kicks off a crucial four-game highway 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 profitable two of the primary three, together with one at Phoenix on Feb. 8.
Durant missed that loss with an ankle harm, 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 a minimum of 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 harm within the win over Sacramento on Wednesday night time. He scored two factors in 16 minutes in his first sport since Jan. 31.
“It felt good to be again, felt good to go on the market and assist the staff win the sport,” stated Watson, who leads the staff in blocks with 1.2 per sport. “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 function on this staff. 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 instead of Gordon. He had 25 factors and is averaging 12.9 factors a sport, tied with Gordon for fifth, and can also be tied with Jamal Murray for second in assists with 6.1 per sport
Jokic leads the staff in scoring (28.8 ppg), rebounds (12.8) and assists (10.4) — inserting him within the NBA’s prime three in every class. Murray is second in scoring at 21.4 factors a sport and Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 18.4 factors.
–Subject Degree Media