The Phoenix Suns watched Nikola Jokic accept his NBA MVP trophy before the start of Game 3 with 18,000-plus fans chanting.
They saw the Denver Nuggets hang with them in the first half in only trailing by four.
Then Suns coach Monty Williams called a timeout up eight with 1:58 left in the third with Phoenix up eight. Denver seemed to have momentum.
Minutes later, the Suns took control of the game, and the series..
Phoenix went on a 14-2 run in building a 20-point lead in its 116-102 win Friday to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in this best-of-7 conference semifinals series.