This was a matchup everyone anticipated happening when Kevin Durant joined the Phoenix Suns in February.
A high-profile series between reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Durant, arguably the best scoring forward in NBA history, in the second round of the playoffs.
Two franchises still searching for their first championship are playing what some have called the de facto Western Conference finals. The No. 1 seed Nuggets and the fourth-seeded Suns will play a conference semifinal series starting with Game 1 tipping off Saturday night in Denver.
Two years ago, Gordon was traded to Denver before the deadline, and the organization hoped he would be the final piece of a title team. But Jamal Murray tore his left ACL before the playoffs, and while the Nuggets got out of the first round, they were swept by the Suns in the second round.
Murray is not only back, but he also looks like he has recaptured his 2020 bubble form when he led Denver to the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
He came alive in the first round against Minnesota in Denver’s five-game series win, leading the Nuggets with 27.2 points per game and reigniting the two-man punch with Jokic, who averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists against the Timberwolves.
Phoenix will be a different challenge than Minnesota. While the Suns aren’t as deep, they have Durant and Devin Booker, who both dominated the first-round series win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Booker averaged 37.2 points and 6.4 assists in the five-game series while Durant averaged 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
The teams split the four games in the regular season, with the home team winning each time. Denver’s two wins came before Durant arrived and the Suns’ victories came late in the year while the Nuggets sat most of their top players, including Jokic.
Phoenix wrapped up its series with the Clippers on Tuesday night and flew up to Colorado on Thursday to help adjust to the altitude change. The Suns practiced Thursday and Friday at Ball Arena to prepare for the first two games on the road.
The Suns are favored to win the series and reach the NBA Finals, but that doesn’t bother Denver.
