The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A season of historic milestones will continue for Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals.

Ayton finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in the Suns’ 125-118 win over the Denver Nuggets last night at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, to complete the four-game sweep in the best-of-seven series.

Ayton averaged 14.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over the course of the series.

He began with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 122-105 win. He followed with 15 points and 10 rebounds in game two’s 123-98 win and 10 points, 15 rebounds in a 116-102 game three win.

So far this postseason, Ayton has played a major role in the Suns’ success on both ends of the floor. The third year centre is averaging 15.6 points and 11.0 rebounds and has posted seven double doubles through 10 games as the Suns are 8-2 in the playoffs.

Phoenix will advance to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2010. They have also won seven straight playoff games for the first time in franchise history.

Ayton averaged 15.7 points and 10.07 rebounds in the Suns first round series win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He is one of just four players in the last 35 years, only players with more than 75 points and more than rebounds through his first four career playoff games.

The others include Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing.

In 2019, the Suns were just 19-63 and improved to 34-39 in the 2020 season, the first year under current head coach Monty Williams.

This season, Suns finished 51-21 and won the Pacific Division title for the first time in 14 years. They ended one of the league’s longest playoff droughts when they earned a postseason berth for the first time in 11 years.