![]() So, naturally déjà vu creeped in as early as the second quarter of Game 4, when the Suns outscored the Nuggets 19-11 during the non-Jokic minutes of the first half. Going into that game, Denver had outscored opponents by 34 points in the 82 minutes Jokic had been off the floor in these playoffs. In fact, for the first time in this series, the Nuggets lost the non-Jokic minutes in Game 3 on the way to ultimately suffering defeat. We watched Denver struggle in the minutes that two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic wasn’t on the floor in Game 3, as Phoenix mounted a 9-0 run in his absence, starting late in the third quarter. Prior to Phoenix’s bench reeling off a 40 piece in Game 4, its previous high this postseason was 24. Ross knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in contributing his eight points, with Warren adding an additional five points on 1-for-3 shooting. Nearly splitting time with starting center Deandre Ayton, backup big Jock Landale contributed eight points, five rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes on the way to leading all players with a plus-16 rating for Game 4. Shamet finished as a plus-15 in raw plus-minus, and his scoring output and five 3-pointers registered as postseason career-highs. Shamet led all reserves in Game 4 with his 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 5-for-8 from deep in 30 minutes. Good that Devin only played 40 minutes tonight after playing 45 the first eight or nine games.” “That is always good when we can bring guys in off the bench and give us a couple minutes rest and we don’t miss a beat. “We played 10 guys tonight, they played eight,” Durant said. So, when Phoenix’s reserves dropped 40 points and outscored Denver’s bench by 29 points, a victory seemed almost inevitable. The Suns entered Game 4 at 2-1 in the 2023 playoffs when their bench contributes 22 points or more. Phoenix’s backups outscored the Denver bench 22-20 in Game 3, only to widen that margin with an encore performance in Game 4. Since we’re on the subject of reserves, we’ll start there in our five takeaways from Game 4:Ĭould Suns bench have turned a corner with Game 4 outburst? Phoenix’s bench unit also walloped Denver’s reserves for the second consecutive contest. It was a huge part of them winning this game.” You tip your cap, and you say Landry Shamet, he gave them a third scoring option tonight. That is where discipline comes in to play and awareness of who is on the floor at what time with who. “Then we allowed Landry Shamet to hit a couple more after that. “Anytime you put two on the ball, you are going to give something up,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone. Phoenix embarked on a 14-8 run in the fourth quarter with Shamet shooting 4-for-5 from range during the barrage. ![]() Over a span of 1 minute, 45 seconds in the fourth quarter, Shamet splashed three consecutive 3-pointers to give Phoenix a nine-point lead with 6:48 left to play. Shamet finished with 19 points, which registers as the most by a Suns reserve so far in the playoffs. The fifth-year veteran entered Game 4 having scored a grand total of seven points over the first three games in this series. The 26-year-old scored 14 of Phoenix’s 31 points in the fourth quarter on a night he drained five 3-pointers, including four in the fourth quarter. Shamet embodied as much in ensuring Phoenix’s reserves positively impacted the outcome of Game 4. ![]() “If they double team, you have to be able to have shot makers on the back side, willing shot takers, and then guys that can put pressure on the rim.” on the back side to knock down shots,” said Suns coach Monty Williams. “ the attention getting, we needed Landry, Terrence, and T.J. Ultimately, though, the reserves made all the difference in this one. Additionally, Jamal Murray chipped in 28 for a total of 81 points between he and Jokic, which was buttressed by double-figure scoring from the remaining three in the starting five. But let’s first acknowledge the significance of the Suns’ role players these last two games in evening up the series at two games apiece.īooker and Durant scored 36 points each Sunday, while Nikola Jokic poured in a game-high and playoff career-high 53 points. ![]() We’ll soon dive into the impact made by Phoenix stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the Suns’ 129-124 win against the Nuggets in Game 4. PHOENIX - So much for the illusion of Denver possessing the deeper roster in this series. Devin Booker and the Suns had reason to celebrate after tying their series against the Nuggets in Game 4.
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