The Phoenix Suns have been on a roll through the first three games of their Western Conference Semi-Finals matchup against the Denver Nuggets led by newly-crowned MVP in Nikola Jokic. On Friday night, the Suns had another stellar showing as they won on a 116-102 victory to put the Nuggets on the brink of elimination with a 3-0 series lead.
With their backs against the wall, Jokic and company will certainly try their best to turn things around and get back on the right track. However, the Suns have already shown in the first three games that they are clearly the better team and are now looking to advance to the Western Conference Finals with another win in Denver.
Here are the three predictions for the Suns-Nuggets series for Game 4:
1. Devin Booker will have another high-scoring game
Chris Paul may have been the steady playmaker for the Suns but Devin Booker has served as the top option on offense, especially during situations when the team is in dire need of a bucket. In Game 3, the former Kentucky talent scored a team-high 28 points to go with six rebounds and four assists through 40 minutes played.
Booker's contributions on offense will continue to be vital for the Suns, especially as the Nuggets are expected to adjust their defensive schemes to limit his production on the floor. Suns fans can expect that the two-time All-Star to show out on the offensive end with another high-scoring game to lead his team to the next round.
2. The Suns' defense will continue to make it tough for the Nuggets
Apart from their dynamic offense, the Suns also have a formidable defense that allows them to contain the offensive production of the Nuggets in this series. Deandre Ayton's presence in the paint has successfully limited the effectiveness of Jokic, especially when he's trying to score near the basket or make plays for his teammates.
Not only Ayton but also the Suns' perimeter defenders have been doing a great job in limiting their opponents in terms of scoring. In Game 3, role players like Austin Rivers, Aaron Gordon, and Facundo Campazzo have all been limited to score in single digits which ultimately affected the Nuggets' chances of winning the tilt.
After seeing their success in Game 3, the Suns are expected to tighten up their defensive schemes even more in order to put more pressure on the Nuggets, especially in an elimination game. Heading into Game 4, the Suns' effort on defense will continue to play a huge role for them as they try to lock down their counterparts and secure a win in Denver.
3. Phoenix will complete the sweep and close out the series in Game 4
It can't be denied that the Suns have been coming out with strong efforts through the first three games of the series but they found more luck on their side as Jokic continues to miss the production of his supporting cast.
With Jamal Murray not getting to see any action in the playoffs due to a season-ending injury, it will definitely be a steep climb for the Nuggets as they try to come out from a deep hole, especially if the team's role players will continue to come out with lackluster performances in Game 4. Not to mention that no team has ever gone back from a 3-0 series deficit in league history which further increases the odds that are already against them.
With that, the Suns are poised to complete the sweep on their opponents' home floor if they manage to put up another impressive showing on Sunday night. Devin Booker's scoring along with the team's defensive efforts led by Deandre Ayton will all be key for the Suns' bid to secure their first Conference Finals berth since 2009-10.