Nuggets, Suns qualify for NBA Western Conference semifinals
The Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns have sealed their spots in the Western Conference semi-finals.
The Nuggets won 112-109 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 136-130 as both clinched 4-1 series wins.
The Nuggets and Suns will now face each other for a conference final spot, with the first match in Denver on Saturday.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 119-117 to keep their series alive.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was once again the inspiration for the Nuggets as he scored 28 points with 17 rebounds and 12 assists.
Jamal Murray added 35 points for the Western Conference top seeds, who are through to the semi-finals for the fourth time in five seasons.
In Phoenix, Devin Booker top-scored with 47 points for the Suns, who recovered from an opening game defeat against the Clippers to reel off four straight wins.
The Clippers, without the injured Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, led by 10 points at the start of the second half but Booker scored 25 of his points in the third quarter as the Suns overcame that deficit to progress.
“Those guys don’t stop fighting,” Booker said of the Clippers afterwards.
“That’s been the story of the whole series. Even though they were down men, we knew they were going to bring it.”