Big Second Half Lifts Suns Over Nuggets, 122-105, In Series Opener

For awhile, things looked pretty good for the Denver Nuggets.

But in the end, the Phoenix Suns were too much.

A big second half enabled the Suns to pull away for a 122-105 win over the Nuggets in game one of the Western Conference Semifinals in Phoenix.

Austin Rivers' two free throws gave the Nuggets 72-63 lead with 7:34 left in the third quarter.

That's when the Suns made their move, finishing the quarter on a 25-7 run to lead 88-79 heading to the fourth quarter.

That period wasn't much better for the Nuggets, who saw the Suns bolt out to a 14-5 advantage in the first three-and-a-half minutes and the Suns lead was 102-84, too much for the Nuggets to overcome down the stretch.

Phoenix outscored Denver 65-47 in the second half after the Nuggets took a one point lead at halftime.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Game two will be in Phoenix on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. MDT.

MORE ON THE NUGGETS LOSS HERE

Highlights and postgame comments are below.

Postgame comments from Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

Postgame comments from Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Postgame comments from Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon.

Postgame comments from Nuggets forward JaMychal Green.