ESPN2 minute read
Nuggets rout Suns in Game 6 to reach conference finals
Behind a strong showing from the starting cast, the Nuggets beat the Suns in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The Phoenix Suns have fired coach Monty Williams, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday night.
Williams was 194-115 in four seasons with the Suns and won the NBA Coach of the Year award last season after Phoenix won 64 games. In 2021, he helped guide the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in nearly 20 years.
New Suns owner Mat Ishbia made the decision to fire Williams two days after the Suns’ Western Conference semifinal loss to the Denver Nuggets in six games.
Ishbia, who bought the team in December, caused a stir with the blockbuster acquisition of Kevin Durant at the trade deadline in February. However, a sprained ankle sidelined Durant for all but eight games before the playoffs started, and Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton were injured during the playoffs.
The Suns’ season ended with a 125-100 loss at the hands of the Nuggets, their second blowout defeat in a knockout game in as many years.
Phoenix will compete with the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, who also head into the summer with vacant head coaching positions, as they begin their search for Williams’ replacement.