The Phoenix Suns had a golden opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, but they failed to capitalize on Kevin Durant's struggles from the field. Durant, one of the NBA's most dominant scorers, had an off night shooting, but the Suns couldn't take advantage and ended up losing the game. Let's take a closer look at what happened and how the Suns can bounce back in the next game.
Durant's Struggles
Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the NBA and is known for his ability to score at will. However, in Game 2 against the Nuggets, he had a difficult time finding his rhythm. He shot just 8-23 from the field and 2-9 from three-point range, finishing with 23 points. While that's still a respectable total, it was well below his season average of 28.4 points per game.
Despite Durant's struggles, the Suns couldn't pull away. They led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but the Nuggets kept fighting back. In the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 100-100 with just over two minutes left. That's when Durant hit a big three-pointer to put the Nuggets up by three. The Suns had a chance to tie it up on their next possession, but they missed a three-pointer and the Nuggets went on to win 105-102.
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Suns' Failures
While Durant's struggles were a factor in the game, the Suns have themselves to blame for the loss. They had several opportunities to put the game away, but they couldn't capitalize. One of the biggest reasons for their failure was their lack of scoring from their role players. Chris Paul and Devin Booker combined for 53 points, but no other Suns player scored in double figures.
The Suns also struggled with turnovers, committing 17 compared to the Nuggets' nine. They also struggled from three-point range, shooting just 9-33 from beyond the arc. These factors made it difficult for them to take advantage of Durant's struggles and allowed the Nuggets to stay in the game.
Bouncing Back
The Suns need to make some adjustments if they want to win Game 3 and take control of the series. One of the biggest things they need to do is get more production from their role players. Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson combined for just 15 points in Game 2. They need to step up and provide some scoring to take the pressure off Paul and Booker.
The Suns also need to take better care of the ball and be more efficient from three-point range. They can't afford to turn the ball over 17 times again and expect to win. They also need to shoot a higher percentage from beyond the arc, as they rely heavily on the three-point shot.
In the end, Kevin Durant's struggles were a factor in the Suns' loss in Game 2, but they have themselves to blame. They couldn't take advantage of Durant's off night and failed to execute down the stretch. They need to make some adjustments if they want to win Game 3 and take control of the series. They need more production from their role players, better ball security, and more efficient shooting from beyond the arc. If they can do these things, they should be able to bounce back and take control of the series.
Keywords: Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant, Denver Nuggets, NBA playoffs, Game 2, role players, three-point shooting, turnovers, adjustments, bounce back.
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