Denver aims to throw more resistance at Devin Booker and the Suns in Game 4.

PHOENIX – The Denver Nuggets cringed collectively at times watching clips nearly 12 hours removed from conducting a Game 3 clinic of what not to do defensively in the Western Conference semifinals.

As the images flickered from one to the next, brutal honestly closed out the way the team should have on Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who combined for 86 points in Game 3.

“Considering the clips were very negative, it was a very positive film session,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Saturday afternoon, a day after his team’s 121-114 loss in Game 3 to the Suns. “The game came down to our defense, or lack thereof. They had [23] points in transition. I just got done going through the film with our guys. A very honest, direct film, and the players owned it.”

In combining for 86 points in Game 3, Booker and Durant tied Elgin Baylor and Jerry West (Mar. 29, 1962) for the sixth-most combined points by a duo of teammates in league postseason history, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The superstars also became the ninth duo in NBA playoffs history to each produce 39 points or more in a single postseason contest.

Denver devoted the resources necessary to neutralize the Suns star duo. But credit Booker and Durant for finding ways to overcome, as well as Phoenix’s coaching staff, which tweaked rotations and tactics to throw the Nuggets out of synch. That started from the opening bucket of the game, when Cameron Payne drove coast-to-coast for a layup, followed by transition baskets from Booker and Josh Okogie that gave Phoenix an early 6-2 lead.

Payne joined the Suns starting lineup for Game 3 as the replacement for future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul, who is out with a strained left groin. The former supercharged the pace of the home team’s offense. Denver discussed what Payne might bring to the table ahead of Game 3, but Malone admitted that “talking about it and being ready for it are two different things. We have to be ready for it, not just talk about it tomorrow [in Game 4].”

Transition defense ranks as one of Denver’s major points of emphasis going into Game 4, as well as administering a higher level of physicality early in dealing with Booker, while also attempting to guard Durant tightly without fouling. The former MVP turned an off shooting night (12-for-31) into somewhat of a gem by knocking down 14 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line to finish with 39 points and eight assists with no turnovers.

Booker, meanwhile, poured in 18 points in the opening quarter. By the time Denver decided to ratchet up the pressure on the star guard, he was already in a comfortable rhythm, basically on fire.

“As I told our players, I don’t think that he had any white paint on him,” Malone said. “We were in white jerseys. I don’t think we touched him. Whether it was a transition 3, a coast-to-coast drive, a mid-range pull-up, it was definitely way too easy for him. It’s really hard to put a fire out. And he had it going. He’s gonna score. The sheer volume of shots that he’s going to take, he’s going to score. But we can’t allow it to be on 80% from the field when he goes 20 of 25. So, being into him, being more physical, more aggressive, showing him more of a crowd hopefully doesn’t allow him to start off with 18 points and shoot into a big basket the rest of the night.”

The Suns came into Game 3 ranked 10th among the 16 teams that advanced to the postseason in pace (98.29), and Malone believes that with Payne, Phoenix “played the fastest they’ve played in the first three games.” Phoenix outscored Denver 23-11 in transition, shooting 10-for-14 in those situations. Payne’s speed and driving ability played a role in Booker’s fast start, and the Suns finished Game 3 with a pace of 102.0.

“You’re probably tired of hearing it, but that’s our best offense: when we get a defensive rebound and we take off,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.

Williams also changed up his rotations slightly to bring in Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren for added scoring punch and spacing, before replacing an ineffective Deandre Ayton (2-for-6 for four points) later in the game with Jock Landale, who brought energy in contributing six points on 3-of-3 shooting with nine rebounds and a steal. Phoenix’s bench outscored Denver’s reserves (22-20) for the first time this entire series.

“My body felt phenomenal going into last night’s game,” said Landale, who is averaging 11 minutes in four postseason appearances. “I was really able to get out there and try to push the pace as much as possible. That was an advantage for me sitting out a few weeks there.”

On the other side, two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic led Denver with 30 points, 17 rebounds and a postseason career-high 17 assists in tying Wilt Chamberlain for the most playoff triple-doubles in league annals by a center. Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 62 points in the loss, but the latter shot 33.3% from 3-point range and connected on only one of his eight shots in the fourth quarter.

Murray shouldered the blame for the Nuggets’ Game 3 loss, but Malone didn’t “agree with that at all” given the team’s struggles with slowing down Booker and Durant. So, while the Phoenix duo tops Denver’s priorities, defensively, the club also understands neutralizing Booker and Durant isn’t always possible.

“They’re the problem,” Jokic said. “They’re the two best scorers probably in the league right now, who can create a shot and who teams can send double-teams, send another body, and they can still go out and make tough shots.”

Paul’s absence also creates problems for Denver, which wasn’t adequately prepared for what Payne brought to Phoenix’s starting lineup in Game 3. Paul turned 38 years old on Saturday, and “did a little bit on the floor today,” at practice according to Williams, who added “nothing’s changed from the initial report.”

So, it’s unlikely the Paul plays in Game 4 on Sunday at Footprint Center.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, understand what’s at stake for Game 4. Win, and Denver heads home for Game 5 leading the series 3-1. A loss destroys the momentum the club built in seizing a 2-0 lead at Ball Arena.

“There is no panic. We win together. We lose together,” Malone said. “We had a very productive film session. All I’m hoping for tomorrow is to try to win Game 4 and be better in the areas we struggled in last night: starting in transition, starting in guarding Devin Booker, guarding Kevin Durant without fouling him and keeping him off the foul line. That’s our focus right now: win Game 4, take it one game at a time, and if that allows us to go back 3-1, great. But I understood coming out to Phoenix this series is a long way from being over. That’s a very good team, a playoff-tested team, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity tomorrow afternoon.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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