The Phoenix Suns may not have Chris Paul, but they do have a streak after Friday.
After 47 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals from Devin Booker, the Suns defeated the Nuggets in Game 3 121-114. The win meant the Suns avoided a 0-3 hole in a Western Conference semifinals that looked almost lost after Paul was out for at least a week with a groin injury in Game 2.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET (TNT) in Phoenix as the Nuggets lead 2-1.
Phoenix responded to the loss of their future Hall of Famer point guard by starting Cameron Payne as a backup, but the real move was to double down on Booker and Kevin Durant. Booker had a 20-of-25 night off the field while Durant had 39 points on 12-of-31 shooting with 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
The night equaled a playoff career high for Booker.
Playing much faster than usual and in front of a raucous Phoenix crowd, the Suns built a 15-point lead at halftime. The Nuggets responded with a dominant third quarter, erasing the lead in seven minutes and trailing by just 2 by the end of the frame.
The Suns bounced back in the fourth, ripping off a 9-0 run in the first three minutes and never looking back.
Devin Booker brought the Suns on the board in the Western Conference Semifinals. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
The Suns clinched the win despite another strong night from Nikola Jokić, who had a triple-double with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists. It was the first triple-double in NBA playoff history with at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists.
One of those assists was really ridiculous:
Jamal Murray also had 32 points, but on 13-of-29 shooting.