DURANT, BOOKER GET ASSIST FROM SHAMET
The Denver Nuggets understandably — were putting a huge share of their defensive pressure and attention on Phoenix’s highscoring duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter of Game 4 on Sunday night.
“We were trying to make other guys beat us not named Booker, not named Durant,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone explained. Landry Shamet obliged. Shamet made four crucial 3-pointers in the final period, Booker and Durant both scored 36 points, and the Suns beat the visiting Nuggets 129-124 to even their Western Conference semifinal playoff series at two games apiece.
Booker also finished with a playoff career-high 12 assists, including a few to Shamet, who finished with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Shamet had scored 14 points the entire postseason before Sunday.
“Just making quick decisions, just trying to make the defense pay,” Booker said.
The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Denver lost despite a huge game from MVP runner-up Nikola Jokic, who poured in 53 points on 20of-30 shooting.
Jokic used his physical play to knock down several big buckets, even ripping the ball away from Suns owner Mat Ishbia at one point after the ball went out of bounds, which earned the Nuggets All-Star a technical foul.
“He can score every way imaginable,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.
The Suns took a 98-92 lead into the fourth quarter after a scoring flurry from Booker, who had 17 points in the third. Phoenix wouldn’t trail in the fourth, though Denver didn’t go quietly.
The Nuggets trailed 116106 with 4:55 remaining but never panicked, slowly cutting into the lead. They pulled within 123-120 with 22.4 seconds left but TJ Warren made two free throws to push the margin back to five.
Booker — averaging 36 points on 60% shooting in these playoffs — was hot once again, shooting 14 of 18 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.
“I’m just trying to win,” Booker said. “Throw that efficiency (expletive) out the window, I don’t care about that. Just keep going. Keep attacking, keep being aggressive. If it’s a product of getting open shots and knocking them down, that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists for the Nuggets.
Suns point guard Chris Paul missed his second straight game with a strained left groin suffered during Game 2.
The Suns took a 63-61 lead by halftime. Jokic had 24 points for the Nuggets before the break while Durant had 21 for the Suns.
76ers 116, Celtics 115 (OT): James Harden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in overtime and scored 42 points to help host Philadelphia stave off a wild Boston comeback in a victory that evened their playoff series at 2-2.
Marcus Smart’s potential winner was a tick too late and the Celtics now head home for Tuesday’s Game 5. The 76ers are guaranteed to return home for Game 6 on Thursday.
Smart and Jayson Tatum keyed a Celtics rally from 15 points down with 2 minutes left in the third quarter in hopes of seizing control of the series.
The Sixers were on the brink of defeat numerous times over the final 17 minutes, none more than when Joel Embiid crashed into Smart on a driving, one-handed bank shot with 1:49 left but was whistled for an offensive foul. The play was reviewed and the call stood. Boston kept its 112-111 lead with 1:49 left in OT.
Embiid, the NBA MVP, kept his composure and eventually got to the line to sink two free throws with 59 seconds left and the season in the balance.
Embiid had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Harden added nine assists and eight rebounds.
Tatum struggled to score early but finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Smart had 21.
They went to overtime tied 107-all after Smart was short on a 3 at the horn on one of the few clutch shots Boston missed in the fourth quarter.