Playoff basketball is coming to Phoenix
Tip-off
The Suns and the Nuggets both have everything to play for tonight. A win for either team will guarantee a top four seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage in the first round. Both teams can also skip ahead of Utah to the three seed if the results go their way. For the Suns though, two wins will take them into third place and a likely first round matchup with the Portland Trailblazers. Playing from three will also mean avoiding the Lakers until the conference finals.
The keys for the Suns tonight are keeping the Nuggets out of the paint, hitting the three and pushing the fast break. All this frees up Amare Stoudemire to wreak havoc inside and gives full control of the game to Steve Nash. The Suns’ bench will have to make an important defensive as well as offensive contribution.
I am very excited to see a Phoenix victory tonight!
End of 1st Quarter: Suns 38, Nuggets 26
The Suns started strong out of the gate, Denver fought back. The result? A twelve point lead to the Suns despite Steve Nash’s full court three being waved off at the horn. Foul trouble is the concern for both teams. Collins and Hill for the Suns, Anderson and Nene for the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony will continue to ring up fouls on the Suns and is the key to the game for Denver. If he can get the Suns’ defense to soften and some easy baskets for his teammates, advantage Denver. The Suns’ bench must produce at the start of the second quarter. How will Dragic go in the pressure game?
Halftime: Suns 70, Nuggets 49
Phoenix take a 21 point lead into the second half, but as Suns fan, I feel that it’s a nervous 21 point lead. Yes, Stoudemire has rolled with 17 points. Yes, Phoenix has shot 8/12 from downtown. Yes, Nash is rested and playing well. Yes, this is the most points allowed in the first half by the Nuggets all season. But in basketball, these things always even out.
The Suns must keep up the pressure and the tempo at the beginning of the third quarter. Amundson’s three quick fouls at the beginning of the second threatened to take the wind out of Phoenix’ sails. But Denver didn’t capitalise and ended up creating a storm of their own with two technicals nearing the half. Which team will take control in the third?
End of the 3rd Quarter: Suns 97, Nuggets 70
The Suns did start slowly in the third, letting Denver post a 10-2 run. But the Suns hit back through Stoudemire with a spectacular dunk after Petro was denied at the rim by Frye at the other end. Nash played the entire third quarter and I would expect him to sit the entire fourth unless Denver claw within ten.
Phoenix is in command with a 27 point lead and the crowd behind them. With Denver unlikely to score as many as 45 points in the fourth, the Suns’ magic number is 115. Make it to 115 and the win is certain.
Final: Suns 123, Nuggets 101
A victory to savour… the Suns blowout the Nuggets in a high stakes game 123-101. With Utah posting a comfortable win at Golden State, but losing Carlos Boozer in the process, everything is to play for at Utah tomorrow night.
Lou Amundson finished with more dunks than fouls, including an amazing reverse alley-oop from Dragic behind the half court. The Suns blooded the bench in the fourth, including their latest signing Dwayne Jones. Phoenix shot 14/24 from behind the arc, Stoudemire went 26 and 8, and Steve Nash finished with 18 points, 10 assists and two turnovers in just 29 minutes. The Nuggets big men managed 15 points, 10 rebounds and 9 fouls in a poor night at both ends of the floor.
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