Suns point guard Chris Paul would not let this second-round series against the Denver Nuggets return to Pheonix.
The former Oklahoma City Thunder guard scored 37 points on Sunday to help the Suns complete the sweep.
Paul used his signature spot on the right elbow to catch on fire in the third quarter. He went 6-for-6 in that quarter with every shot coming on the right side of the court and inside the arc.
Twenty-five of his 37 points came in the second half. He went 14-for-19 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
This was the most points Paul has scored in a game since 2018, when poured in 41 points during Game 5 of the Houston Rockets’ second-round playoff series and victory over the Utah Jazz.
Last season, with the Thunder, Paul averaged 21.3 points in the seven playoff games he played against the Rockets.
Suns guards Paul and Devin Booker combined for 71 points in this Game 4 to get the 125-118 victory and series sweep.
MVP Nikola Jokic was ejected in the third quarter after he committed a frustration foul and swiped down on Cam Payne’s face while going for the ball. Because of the wind-up and follow-through of the swipe and the contact made with the former Thunder guard, Jokic was ejected from the game
Despite Jokic’s absence, the Nuggets made a push. They cut the deficit to six with five minutes to play in the game, but Paul made five straight points to build the lead back up.
The Suns advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they will play against either the Utah Jazz or Los Angeles Clippers.
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