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 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 to build a 20-point lead on the way to a 116-102 win Friday to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in this best-of-7 conference semifinal series.
Devin Booker led the Suns, winners of six straight playoff games, with 28 points while Chris Paul went for 27 points and eight assists to offset a triple-double from Jokic (game-high 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists).
Game 4 is Sunday in Denver, where Phoenix will look to fulfill the “Suns in 4” chant they heard from their fans near the end of Game 2 at Phoenix Suns Arena.
No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
Follow Duane Rankin on Twitter @DuaneRankin.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns run past Nuggets again to take commanding 3-0 series lead