Denver Nuggets dominate Game 5, take 3-2 series lead over Phoenix Suns

Dana Scott, Arizona Republic

May 10, 2023 at 10:40 AM·7 min read

The Phoenix Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets 118-106 in the go-ahead Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday.

Denver has a 3-2 lead in the series, which will return to Phoenix on Thursday.

Denver's Nikola Jokic had a triple-double and led all scorers with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. The team's second-best scorer was Bruce Brown with 25 points off the bench.

Phoenix's Devin Booker has his team-high 28 points and Kevin Durant had 26 in the losing effort.

Phoenix faces elimination from the playoffs in the next game.

Suns down by huge deficit late in 4th quarter

It's over.

Phoenix coach Monty Williams has given up bringing in the end of his bench as Denver is ahead 115-95 at 3:31 left to play.

Phoenix was down by its largest lead of the contest, 24 points, at 7:48 after Christian Braun stole an errant pass from Kevin Durant.

Phoenix has committed a myriad of turnovers and Denver's raucous home crowd can't get enough of those gifts that keep on giving.

Win or go home: Suns facing elimination without answer for Nikola Jokic

More: Durant: Exchange with Jokic near Suns huddle was 'absolutely nothing'

More: The Suns couldn't do anything right against the Denver Nuggets

Suns in trouble, down by 17 to end 3rd quarter

Phoenix couldn't find an offensive flow, namely its stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the third period.

Denver leads 91-74, and stretching its largest to 21 at the 1:30 mark.

Denver thrived in transition from its many defensive stops to outscore Phoenix, 39-25, in the third.

Devin Booker made just one of his eight shot attempts after his 5-of-8 start in the first half for 19 points.

Phoenix was outscored 24-13 from the 9:19 mark and laid a lot of bricks.

Kevin Durant (20 points) got up just two shots as he was smothered by the Denver defense. He also got in a minor dust-up with Bruce Brown at 37 seconds left, and they were handed double technical fouls.

Suns down by 10 early in 3rd quarter

Denver is repeating what it did in the first quarter's onset, outscoring Phoenix and gaining a sizable lead.

Phoenix is trailing, 63-53, has never led in the game through the third period's 8:59 mark, and called timeout to stop Denver's 11-4 run.

Booker's deep buzzer-beater waved off, Nuggets lead by 3 at halftime

Denver leads Phoenix, 52-29 at the intermission. But the score would've been tied if Devin Booker's half-court buzzer-beater counted in time.

After Deandre Ayton blocked Aaron Gordon's floater near Denver's rim in the closing seconds, Booker grabbed a loose ball under the basket, then dribbled up the floor and threw up a contested heave shot.

He banked it in, but the officials ruled the shot didn't leave his hands quick enough before the horn.

Devin Booker hits half-court halftime buzzer beater that would’ve tied the game at 52-52, but it’s waved off. pic.twitter.com/t91MZO9Q0T
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) May 10, 2023

Booker has been Phoenix's most efficient scorer per usual. He's got a team-high 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Kevin Durant has 13 points, but still working to find his shooting rhythm at 5-of-16 FG. He was seen during halftime before the team returned to the bench getting up shots.

Denver's leading scorer is Michael Porter Jr. at 16 points after his hot start in the first quarter. Nikola Jokic has 10 points for Denver.

Suns on a run led by Durant late in 1st half

Phoenix is rising over the past four minutes, cutting Denver's lead to 45-42 at 3:23 left in the second quarter.

Since the 7:41 mark, Phoenix has been on a 10-3 run led by Kevin Durant. He's scored three field goals during that stretch and has 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Nuggets winning battle of benches over Suns

It's still early, but this is somewhat looking like Games 1 and 2 of this series in terms of the bench scoring again.

Denver usually plays just three reserves in Christian Braun, Jeff Green and Bruce Brown, including tonight. They have combined for 11 points through 6:56 in the second quarter.

Phoenix has gone four deep with Jock Landale, T.J. Warren, Landry Shamet and Terrence Ross. Warren scored his team bench's only bucket on a mid-range jumpshot assisted by Devin Booker at that same minute mark to cut Denver's lead to 42-34. Then Denver called its first timeout.

Nuggets take double-digit lead to end 1st quarter

Aside from Devin Booker (12 points, 4-of-5 FG) the Phoenix offense has trouble getting in rhythm in the opening period and stopping Denver's pace.

Phoenix trails 35-24 at the end of the 1st.

Denver's leading scorer thus far is Michael Porter Jr. with 14 points.

Porter Jr. on fire from deep, Ayton hurt

Michael Porter Jr. is shooting lights out already.

The 3-point threat has 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including hitting four of his five attempts from deep.

His latest 3 happened at 2:50 left in the first period, and he shot it over Deandre Ayton, and Denver took a 29-18 lead.

On the previous Denver possession, Ayton got kneed in the gut on a drive from Bruce Brown and he was unable to run back to the Suns offense. He tried to close out when Denver got the ball back, but was visibly hurt.

Phoenix called timeout to stop Denver's run after Porter's fourth 3, and Ayton was replaced by Jock Landale.

Deandre Ayton looks like he got the wind knocked out of him after he caught a knee to the gut from Nuggets’ Bruce Brown.

Ayton couldn’t run back on offense after that play and then barely closed out on Michael Porter Jr.’s 4th make from deep (has 14 points).

Suns down 29-18. pic.twitter.com/4wSwBMBgbq
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) May 10, 2023

Nuggets jump out to 8-point lead, led by Porter Jr.

Denver has led Phoenix since the tip-off and the score is 17-9 at 7:01 in the first quarter.

Michael Porter Jr. scored the first field goal from the 3, hits a second from there and another shot to currently lead all scorers with ight points.

Devin Booker has shot 2-of-2 thus far for four points.

Starting lineups

Phoenix is starting Devin Booker and Cameron Payne in the backcourt, Kevin Durant and Josh Okogie as its forwards, and Deandre Ayton in the paint.

Denver is starting Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic.

How to watch Game 5 of Nuggets vs. Suns

The Suns vs. Nuggets game on Tuesday can be seen on TNT.

You can see the complete schedule for the Suns vs. Nuggets NBA Playoffs series here.

Nuggets vs. Suns Game 5 prediction

USA TODAY Sports' Sportsbook Wire has the Nuggets winning Game 5, 116-111.

It writes: "The 115.8 points per game the Nuggets put up are only 4.2 more points than the Suns allow (111.6). Denver has a 37-16-2 record against the spread and a 47-8 record overall when scoring more than 111.6 points. Phoenix is 33-18-2 against the spread and 39-14 overall when allowing fewer than 115.8 points. The Suns score an average of 113.6 points per game, just 1.1 more points than the 112.5 the Nuggets give up to opponents."

You can see other picks and predictions for the contest here.

The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns face off in Game 5 of their NBA Playoffs series on Tuesday night.

Nuggets vs. Suns Game 5 odds

The Nuggets are a 4.5-point favorite over the Suns, according to Tipico Sportsbook.

Phoenix is +170 on the moneyline, while Denver is -200.

The over/under for the game is set at 227.5 points.

You can see more odds for the Suns vs. Nuggets NBA Playoffs series here.

Pregame reading for Nuggets vs. Suns Game 5

What must Suns do to win Game 5 vs. Nuggets? Here's what The Republic's writers say

Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton no-call on Nikola Jokic has Denver Nuggets fans crying foul

Devin Booker making NBA history, earning superlatives for Phoenix Suns in NBA Playoffs

Shaq issues apology to Devin Booker after Phoenix Suns' Game 4 win vs. Denver Nuggets

Devin Booker and the Suns have figured out how to beat Denver: Trust one another

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs Game 5 score updates

Associated Press
Congress returns to unfinished business and a new Trump era
Congress returns to a changed Washington as President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, buoyed by eager Republican allies eyeing a full sweep of power on Capitol Hill while Democrats are sorting out what went wrong. Trump is already testing the norms of governance during this presidential transition period — telling the Senate to forgo its advise-and-consent role and simply accept his Cabinet nominees — and he is staffing his administration and finding lawmakers willing to bend those civic traditions. “Trump’s going to deliver his deportations, the drilling, the wall — it’s going to take all of us getting together,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Associated Press
Too many wild deer are roaming England's forests. Can promoting venison to consumers help?
In the half-light of dusk, Martin Edwards surveys the shadows of the ancient woodland from a high seat and waits. Edwards advocates humane deer management: the culling of deer to control their numbers and ensure they don’t overrun forests and farmland in a country where they no longer have natural predators. For these advocates, shooting deer is much more than a sport.
NBC News
Scientists warn that a key Atlantic current could collapse, among other climate tipping points
A report describes the dire state of Earth’s snow and ice, suggesting that several major climate tipping points are more likely to be reached than previously thought.
Associated Press
A pair of Trump officials have defended family separation and ramped-up deportations
Donald Trump's first picks for immigration policy jobs spent the last four years angling for this moment. Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan had critical roles in the first Trump administration and are unapologetic defenders of its policies, which included separating thousands of parents from their children at the border to deter illegal crossings. With Trump promising sweeping action in a second term on illegal immigration, the two White House advisers will bring nuts-and-bolts knowledge, lessons from previous setbacks and personal views to help him carry out his wishes.
Associated Press
Spy satellite images lead archeologists to the site of a historic battle in Iraq
Declassified 1970s-era U.S. spy satellite imagery has led a British-Iraqi archeological team to what they believe is the site of a seventh-century battle that became decisive in the spread of Islam throughout the region. The Battle of al-Qadisiyah was fought in Mesopotamia — in present-day Iraq — in the A.D. 630s between Arab Muslims and the army of the Sassanid Persian dynasty during a period of Muslim expansion. A joint team of archeologists from the U.K.’s Durham University and the University of Al-Qadisiyah stumbled across the site while undertaking a remote sensing survey to map the Darb Zubaydah, a pilgrimage route from Iraq’s Kufa to Mecca in Saudi Arabia built more than 1,000 years ago.
Associated Press
Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira set to be sentenced, could get up to 17 years in prison
A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine is expected to be sentenced in federal court on Tuesday. Prosecutors have argued that Jack Teixeira should be sentenced to 17 years in prison, saying he “perpetrated one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history.” “As both a member of the United States Armed Forces and a clearance holder, the defendant took an oath to defend the United States and to protect its secrets — secrets that are vital to U.S. national security and the physical safety of Americans serving overseas,” prosecutors wrote.
Reuters
Democrat Ruben Gallego elected to US Senate in Arizona, Edison Research projects
Democratic congressman Ruben Gallego won election to the U.S. Senate in Arizona, Edison Research projected late on Monday, keeping the seat currently held by retiring Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat-turned-independent, in his party's hands. Gallego, 44, is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran who represented a Phoenix district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015 before challenging hardline Republican Kari Lake for the Senate seat in a key swing state.
Associated Press
Ranked voting will decide a pivotal congressional race. How does that work?
In a pivotal congressional race in Maine, the state's ranked choice voting system is being used this week to determine the winner, but that won't be the end of it. Election workers will try to complete both tasks quickly enough to ensure the results are certified and sent to the governor by Maine's Nov. 25 deadline, though state law grants an exception for recounts. Why so much attention to this race? The contest between Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and Republican challenger Austin Theriault in Maine's second congressional district is one of a dwindling number of uncalled races that will determine which party controls the U.S. House.
Associated Press
Biden funded new factories and infrastructure projects, but Trump might get to cut the ribbons
All that's left is for President-elect Donald Trump to put his name on it — if he wants. Trump won the White House in large part because of voters' frustration with high prices and a sense that the United States needs major changes. The unemployment rate is low, inflation is easing and President Joe Biden's administration has teed-up a ready-made list of infrastructure projects that could go from theoretical to reality over the next several years.
NBC News
Trump expected to choose Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as secretary of state for his administration in the coming days, according to three sources familiar with the selection process.
Associated Press
Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake
Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator, defeating Republican Kari Lake and preventing Republicans from further padding their Senate majority. Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.
Associated Press
Last GOP congressman anchored in Democratic LA county concedes in race against former NASA exec
U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, the last Republican congressman anchored in heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, on Monday conceded to Democrat George Whitesides, ending his reelection bid in a district north of Los Angeles. In a statement, Garcia, a former Navy fighter pilot, said he had congratulated Whitesides and will ensure a smooth handoff of office operations to the former NASA chief of staff. Garcia thanked district residents “for allowing me to represent them during a tumultuous and critical period in our nation’s history.”
Reuters
IMF's Pakistan mission chief holds initial meeting with finance minister
The International Monetary Fund's Pakistan mission chief Nathan Porter held an initial meeting with the country's finance minister in Islamabad on Tuesday, the finance ministry said in a statement. The unscheduled visit of the IMF mission chief comes four months ahead of the first review under the new $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) granted to the country by the global lender in September. The chiefs of Pakistan's central bank and federal board of revenue also attended the meeting besides other officials from both the sides, the statement said.
Reuters
South Korea's Yoon practices golf to prepare for future Trump meets
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently began practicing golf, for the first time in eight years, in preparation for future meetings with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Yoon's office confirmed on Tuesday. South Korean media said Yoon visited a golf course on Saturday for a sport his office said he had last played in 2016. "A lot of people close to President Trump... (told me) President Yoon and Trump will have good chemistry," Yoon told a press conference on Thursday, after congratulating Trump by telephone on his win.
AFP
Short cut to feminism: How an assault changed Korean woman's outlook
Aspiring South Korean writer On Ji-goo never considered herself a feminist but changed her mind after being physically attacked by a man for having short hair."When I first heard that having short hair meant you were a feminist, I found it absurd," On said.
TODAY
Costco recalls nearly 80,000 pounds of butter — and you’ll never guess why
Costco was forced to recall nearly 80,000 pounds of Kirkland Signature butter because of an "undeclared allergen." It forgot to list "milk" on the label.
CNN
Thousands in Australia line up to see stinking ‘corpse flower’ that only blooms once a decade
It’s amorphophallus titanum, named after the putrid stench it releases when it blooms to attract pollinators like beetles and flies.
AFP
EU top team heavyweights face parliament test
The heavyweights of the EU's new top team are to be quizzed by lawmakers in Brussels on Tuesday during confirmation hearings that are set to lay bare political dividing lines within the bloc.Fitto's troubles might in turn affect Ribera, who along with Finland's Henna Virkkunen will be the last to undergo the three-hour questioning, and might be in for a rough hearing if lawmakers have already taken their gloves off.
AFP
North Korea ratifies defence treaty with Russia
North Korea has ratified a landmark defence pact with Russia, state media reported Tuesday, deepening security cooperation that has seen Pyongyang send thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine.Citing intelligence reports, South Korea, Ukraine and the United States say North Korea has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine.
AFP
China's largest air show takes off with fighter jets, attack drones
Stealth fighter jets and attack drones took centre stage as China's largest air show officially opened on Tuesday, an opportunity for Beijing to showcase its growing military might to potential customers and rivals alike.The star of Airshow China, which showcases Beijing's civil and military aerospace sector every two years in the southern city of Zhuhai, is the new J-35A stealth fighter jet.