Facundo Campazzo and the Denver Nuggets suffered another setback at the hands of some terrific Phoenix Suns. The Argentine team fell again, this time by 116-102, in the semifinals of the NBA Western Conference and was 0-3 in the series, a result that never in the history of the league could it be traced.
The Argentine had a discreet game although at a specific moment he collaborated in what could seem like a recovery of the team. In short, he contributed 6 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal, with a clear symptom: did not give an assist in the almost 18 minutes he was on the court.
The game of Nikola Jokic was of little use to the local, who received his award for MVP of the season and added 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, although he barely scored 1-6 in triples and 5-9 in free practice.
In the visit they stood out Devin Booker (28 points), Chris Paul (27, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals) and Deandre Ayton (10 points and 15 sacks on the boards).
Knowing what happened in the previous game, when Denver was very weak with his distance shot and it was enough to carry the mark of Nikola Jokic, Phoenix repeated the plan that had given him success and complicated from the outset.
At the same time, the visit attacked the painting from early, there where Jokic has all the weaknesses that he does not show on offense.
Michael Malone, DT of Denver, determined that for the start of this game it was Austin Rivers who will be in charge of defending Chris Paul, leaving Campazzo in the assignment of a player who despite having greater physical size has less weight in offense as Jae Crowder.
After 8 minutes of the first quarter Campazzo, Rivers and Aaron Gordon they left to enter Will Barton (still making his return after injury), Monte Morris Y JaMychal Green.
Phoenix continued to manage the shares and took the fourth by 10 points (37-27) playing practically unopposed in each attack: scored a 71% of his shots from the court with a varied and even scoring of his five starters and his sixth man, the perimeter Cameron Payne.
As during much of the playoffs, some members of Denver’s second unit performed acceptably, standing out Monte Morris with 12 points, and at some point they closed the gap until they were close to five units, but at each hint of recovery, Phoenix punished again.
Campazzo returned near the end of the second quarter and contributed two triples plus a catch of a loose ball that, at the other end of the court, ended in a double and Jokic fouled, although the Serbian could not score the free kick. But his interventions allowed Denver to reach six and at the end of the first half will be able to cut to four (55-59).
So close and so far at the same time. Because a little while in the third quarter was enough for the balance to end up unbalanced. As had happened in the two previous games, it was from 24 to 36 minutes of play that Phoenix finished settling the lawsuit.
With Booker and Paul leading the way, the Suns took over the shares, continued to score with ease near the rim (12-20 for 60% in that quarter), a unforgivable for a team that prides itself on wanting to advance to the round or at least meet in the first game against its people.
Denver, meanwhile, was just 4-15 out of the paint in that span. And in general, he allowed himself to be marked a lot of backlash and paid dearly for his losses, in addition to having a very low effectiveness from all sectors of the court (even in the free lane).
But the worst thing was the lack of certain intangibles like that sporting shame that leads a team to fight when the hand is crooked. The words of Coach Malone, who had harshly questioned the attitude of their targets in previous crashes.
The Nuggets, in short, were 0-3, a difference that never in the history of the playoffs was traced. A difference that condemns them to say goodbye to the championship almost certainly and with a single certainty: the need to offer something better to make up a closure that could be expected before one of the best teams in the championship But that’s not why it should happen without rolling up your sleeves and fighting.
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