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

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges gets past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic to score in the second half of the Suns’ 122-105 win on Monday, June 7 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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.

6-7-21 Head Coach Michael Malone Postgame

Postgame comments from Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

6-7-21 Nikola Jokic Postgame

Postgame comments from Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon.

6-7-21 Aaron Gordon Postgame

Postgame comments from Nuggets forward JaMychal Green.

6-7-21 JaMychal Green Postgame

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