Western Conference Recaps, May 5: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant Help Phoenix Suns Get Back In Series Against Denver Nuggets

In a must-win game against the Denver Nuggets, the duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant kept the Phoenix Suns alive.

Devin Booker led the way with 47 points to lead the Suns to a 121-114 victory. This scoring output came four days after he recorded 35 points in Game 2’s loss.

“It's all I know, this is all I dreamed of as a kid,” said Booker, who also had five 3-pointers. “I've dedicated a lot of my life, moved away from my family when I was young, to pursue being in these moments.”

Durant scored 39 points but shot just 38 percent from the field. He collected 14 of those points from the free throw line.

“It's frustrating not making shots, because that's what I'm paid to do,” said Durant, who shot under 40 percent for a second straight night. “But there also comes a time when you've just got to figure it out and push through it.”

Booker and Durant were the only two Suns to score in double-figures. Deandre Ayton had four points while T.J. Warren led the bench with seven.

After struggling in Game 2, Jamal Murray finally got back to his normal self. He scored 32 points to lead the Nuggets but he couldn’t show up when they really needed him. He only had four points in the fourth quarter.

“I had some great looks at the end of the game and that would have kept us right there,” Murray said. “I feel like they pulled away because of that. I have to be more locked in, more relaxed down the stretch.”

Nikola Jokic recorded 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists while Michael Porter had 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 4 is Sunday in Phoenix.

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.

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