Nuggets Take Game 1 in Dominant Fashion, Overwhelming Suns with Balanced Scoring and Aggressive Defense

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 125-107 in Game 1 of their second-round series despite oddsmakers favoring the Suns to win the Western Conference title.

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The Suns had the playoff's highest-scoring duo in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but the Nuggets utilized balanced scoring, timely double-teams, a deeper bench, and a sizable advantage in 3-point shooting to take control of the game.

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Nuggets coach Mike Malone reminded his players that the pressure was on the Suns to win the series, and they should enjoy playing without the burden of being the favorites.

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Nuggets guard Jamal Murray had a spectacular performance, scoring 34 points, dishing out nine assists, and hitting six three-pointers.

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The Nuggets blitzed Booker with double-teams, making him more passive than he was in the first round against the Clippers.

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The Suns committed 16 turnovers in Game 1, half of which were steals by the Nuggets, and will need to take better care of the ball to compete in the series.

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If the Suns are going to compete in the series, their Big Three of Durant, Booker, and Chris Paul will need to step up their game and play at a faster pace.

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The Nuggets' depth and balanced scoring, along with timely double-teams and a strong advantage in 3-point shooting, were key factors in their Game 1 victory over the Suns.

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Another factor in the Nuggets' favor is their depth, with players like Monte Morris, Facundo Campazzo, and JaMychal Green providing valuable contributions off the bench.

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Denver's success in Game 1 was also due to their ability to move the ball effectively, racking up 27 assists on 48 made field goals.

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Phoenix struggled from beyond the arc in Game 1, shooting just 28.6% from three-point range, compared to Denver's blistering 48.6%.

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The Nuggets' defense was particularly effective against the Suns' pick-and-roll offense, which had been a major strength for Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

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Overall, Game 1 was a statement win for the Nuggets, who proved that they can compete with and even dominate one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

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