Rob Issa, FISM News
Nikola Jokic gave Suns owner Mat Ishbia a ball, a handshake, and a hug and then dropped a triple-double on Phoenix.
Jokic had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double and the Denver Nuggets beat the Suns 118-102 on Tuesday night to move within one win of the Western Conference Finals.
Jokic was fined $25,000 for his role in an altercation with Ishbia in Game 4 after a loose ball went into the stands. They made up before the game and Jokic then put Ishbia’s team on the brink of elimination.
“I was hoping he was going to pay my fine,” Jokic joked.
His triple-double broke Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain’s playoff record for a center.
“To be honest, I just like to win the game, so whatever it takes,” Jokic said.
The two-time NBA MVP scored 53 points in a loss the previous game. The No. 1 seed Nuggets can close out the series on Thursday night in Phoenix.
Jamal Murray added 19 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 18 for Denver, which is trying to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2020.
“I’m just trying to get myself going sometimes,” Murray said about a strong third quarter after a lackluster first half. “Sometimes I just need a little energy boost myself and once I’m in attack mode, it kind of changes the game. It’s nothing personal, I’m just playing the game.”
Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points and Kevin Durant had 26 with 11 rebounds but also turned the ball over five times.
“I’ve been in here a couple of times now,” Booker said about being down 3-2. “I love it. Every game has its own character. Every game is its own movie, its own different preparation, and everything to go with it. We’re going watch over film, see how we can be better for Game 6.”
The home team has won each game in the Nuggets-Suns series.
EMBIID, 76ERS TOP CELTICS
In Boston, Joel Embiid scored 33 points and the Philadelphia 76ers moved within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals with a 115-103 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points, including six 3-pointers, and James Harden had 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds for Philadelphia, which is seeking its first trip to the conference finals since 2001.
“It’s not over. We have to get one more,” Embiid said.
All of us. We have to show up. We still gotta get one more win. That’s all I’m thinking about right now. And then obviously, you go home, so you’re going to have a lot of energy in the crowd. And we imagine everybody plays better at home, too. I do play batter at home. What we did tonight is easier said than done but gotta do it again. I’m excited for it.
The 76ers built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and cruised down the stretch for their second-straight win after falling behind 2-1 in the series.
They can eliminate the Celtics with another victory at home Thursday night in Game 6.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points and Jaylen Brown had 24. The Celtics had a poor shooting night. Tatum missed his first six shots and was just 11 of 27. The team was 12 of 38 from 3-point range.
“It’s just not put too much pressure on yourself, go out there and follow the gameplan, try to relax,” Tatum said. “I think we were a little tight so go out there and relax and obviously play hard and things like that, compete on both ends and play the right way. There’s no secret answer, go out there and play how we know we are capable of and we’ll see.”
The Celtics were in the same position last year against the Milwaukee Bucks before rallying to win the final two games of the series.
Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers has watched his teams blow 3-1 series leads three times in the playoffs so he knows a 3-2 advantage isn’t safe.
“We’re up 3-2. That’s it,” Rivers said. “We have to get our rest and we have to get ready because they are going to play great and we have to be able to sustain that.”