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Good morning to everyone but especially to...
THE PHOENIX SUNS...
Devin Booker. Kevin Durant. Nikola Jokic. Take your pick. We're watching greatness -- and a series that's on its way to becoming an all-timer.
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The Suns held off the Nuggets, 129-124 to even their Western Conference semifinal at 2-2.
Booker and Durant both scored 36 points, Booker on 14-18 shooting and Durant on 11-19.It's just the second time in playoff history a pair of teammates have scored 35+ points on under 20 shots in the same game. LeBron James and Anthony Davis did it against the Trail Blazers in 2020.Jokic, meanwhile, went for a Nuggets playoff-record 53 points and added 11 assists.The biggest thing separating the two teams? Role players: Landry Shamet nailed five 3-pointers (the Nuggets only made seven as a team), and the Phoenix bench outscored Denver's 40-11.The numbers for Booker -- and there are plenty -- are stunning. But how about this? He's the first player in NBA history with consecutive playoff games of 35 points on at least 75% shooting. Here's our Sam Quinn on how Booker's hot streak is one we've never seen before:
Quinn: "'NBA history' is a phrase you're going to hear plenty of as Booker's scorching streak continues. It may only be the second round, but Booker is making history every time he steps on the floor. At this rate, he is going to make a genuine argument for the title of 'best offensive postseason in NBA history.'"Oh, and one other thing: Remember when I said this could be an all-time series? Please, NBA, don't let this kerfuffle between Jokic and Suns owner Mat Ishbia be anything more than the technical Jokic received.
... AND ALSO A GOOD MORNING TO THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
When things have seemed their most dire, James Harden has been at his very best. The 76ers are somehow, some way, tied up with the Celtics, 2-2, after his latest heroics in a 116-115 overtime win.
Harden swished home the game-winning 3-pointer with 19 seconds left -- the final three of his game-high 42 points. He made Jaylen Brown pay for a defensive mistake, notes our Brad Botkin. Harden also forced overtime with a tough lefty runner. The Celtics failed to even get a shot off on their final possession, with the ball clearly still in Marcus Smart's hands as time expired.Joel Embiid finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds and had the assist on Harden's game-winner.Harden's clutch shots saved what would have been an absolute gut punch of a loss for the 76ers, who led by as much as 16. Jayson Tatum scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half to lead the charge.Harden joined Allen Iverson as the only other 76er with multiple 40-point games in a single postseason; Harden's other one came in Game 1, when he erupted for 45 points (and had another game-winner) and Philadelphia won without Embiid.
Harden has had plenty of playoff duds -- his awful Games 2 and 3 among them -- but he has been absolutely terrific outside of that, and Game 4 was no exception. With Embiid absolutely gassed down the stretch, Harden had 13 of the 76ers' 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. This was vintage Harden when the 76ers needed him most.
