Nikola Jokic’s 39 points leads Nuggets past Suns 97-87

DENVER (AP) —Nikola Jokic had 39 points and 16 rebounds to rally the DenverNuggets to a 97-87 win over Phoenix on Monday night, taking a 2-0lead over the Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.

Jokic, wholearns Tuesday if he’s edged Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpofor his third consecutive NBA MVP award, recently renamed forMichael Jordan, scored 26 in the second half as the Nuggets eraseda seven-point third-quarter deficit.

Jokic’s bignight was necessary as Jamal Murray scored just 10 points on3-of-15 shooting after he scored 34 in the series opener when hehad six 3-pointers. Murray was 0 for 9 from long range Mondaynight.

Aaron Gordonadded 16 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 14 points andwent 4 for 4 from beyond the arc, including back-to-back swishesthat erased a 73-70 deficit and put the Nuggets ahead for goodearly in the fourth quarter.

Devin Bookerled Phoenix with 35 points and Kevin Durant added 24.

The teams getan extended break before the series resumes with Game 3 in Phoenixon Friday night.

The Suns, wholost Chris Paul to a tight left groin late in the third quarter,took a 73-70 lead thanks to Booker’s 31 points — which matchedJokic’s output — entering the fourth quarter.

The Suns wentcold, however, and Denver surged ahead 76-73 on back-to-back3-pointers by Caldwell-Pope, forcing a Phoenix timeout at the 8:56mark.

Afterallowing Denver to take 17 more shots than they had in Game 1, theSuns flipped things Monday night, taking 15 more shots than theNuggets in the first half, but they led just 42-40 at thebreak.

The Sunspushed the lead to seven in the third quarter but both Durant andDeandre Ayton picked up their fourth fouls late in the period,taking a seat, and Paul walked gingerly to the locker room at the4:32 mark and didn’t return.

TIP-INS

Suns: Phoenixheld the Nuggets to their lowest-scoring first quarter all season,limiting them to 18 points. ... The Suns didn’t shoot a single freethrow in the first half. ... Paul finished with 8 points.

Nuggets:Jokic scored 11 of Denver’s first 14 points but only had 13 byhalftime. ... The Nuggets had 68 points by halftime in the seriesopener but made just 16 first-half shots Monday night. ... Murraywas 1 for 7 from the floor before halftime and scored just 4 pointsbefore the break.