DENVER — The third quarter was when it all unraveled, when the Phoenix Suns lost their grasp on Game 5 and perhaps their grasp of this Western Conference semifinals series altogether.
Phoenix quelled an opening 9-0 punch from Denver in the contest’s first frame Tuesday night, when the combination of Devin Booker’s efficient sniping and Kevin Durant overcoming a 1-of-9 shooting start clawed the Suns to within 3 points at intermission. Only one team emerged ready for the second half, though, as the Nuggets began that fateful third period on a 17-4 run from which Phoenix never recovered.