Suns have block party in 1st quarter of Game 4 vs. Nuggets

Jun 13, 2021, 5:40 PM | Updated: 11:58 pm

Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns blocks a shot attempt by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

The Phoenix Suns had a block party in the first quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday night at Ball Arena.

The Denver Nuggets were on the receiving end of that invitation.

Phoenix combined for a total of five blocks in the opening period.

Suns forward Jae Crowder led the way with three swats.

Crowder with the swat, Book with the bucket 👏

(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/QydTWXihxm

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 14, 2021

Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton each had one rejection to round out the Suns’ five first quarter blocks.

Crowder finished the contest with a game-high four blocks.

Phoenix led Denver 28-22 at the end of the opening 12 minutes and 63-55 at halftime.

With the 125-118 win in Game 4, the Suns punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals in Phoenix’s first playoff appearance in over a decade.

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, shakes hands with injured Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray after the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns fans cheer as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton reacts after dunking the ball in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, right, hangs from the rim after dunking the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton, front left, and center JaVale McGee defend in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers, left, consoles forward Michael Porter Jr. as he takes a seat on the bench after being pulled from the floor late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, right, tries to steal the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone waves to the crowd after the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig, left, congratulates guard Devin Booker as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder, left, hugs forward Mikal Bridges as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, center, confers with players during a timeout late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris, left, drives to the rim past Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, left, drives past Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee reacts as he is fouled in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is restrained after getting into an argument with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, argues with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, argues with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center front, in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, squares off with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, is restrained from fighting with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, second from left in front, in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, grabs Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front, is escorted from the court after being ejected for a flagrant foul in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Referee David Guthrie, right, struggles to keep Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, back, from fighting with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, left, shoots for a basket as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Injured Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, follows Denver Nuggets guards Shaquille Harrison, front right, and Austin Rivers off the court to the locker room at the end of the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front left. squares off with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, squares off against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, goes up for a basket between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and guard Austin Rivers in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, right, celebrates after scoring a basket with center JaVale McGee in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, goes up for a basket as Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, moves the ball inside as Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, back, contests a shot by Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, front, fights for control of a rebound with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound in front of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker reacts after he was fouled while driving to the rim in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series againstt he Denver Nuggets Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo pursues in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, shoots over Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Members of the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets stand for the playing of the national anthem before Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) argues for a call with referee Rodney Mott (71) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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