Devin Booker says Jock Landale's rebounding paced Suns' fast breaks in Game 3 win over Nuggets

Jock Landale was the defensive glue guy who helped keep the Phoenix Suns from unraveling on Friday night and possibly going down 0-3 in the Western Conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets.

What Phoenix fans will mostly remember about Game 3 is Devin Booker's magical 20-of-25 shooting clinic for 47 points with just two free throws, and Kevin Durant's 39 points.

But Landale's six points, nine rebounds (including seven on defense) and a steal during his 22 minutes off the bench was vital in enabling Phoenix to double Denver's scoring in transition (23 to 11 in fast break points). His 3-of-3 shooting was all at the rim.

Landale had two layups assisted by Booker in the first half, and a dunk in transition assisted by Durant after the latter grabbed a defensive rebound, giving the Suns a 83-82 lead late in the third quarter.

“It’s an important part of the game, getting stops and running, and I think against this team we need to do that as much as we can," Landale said.

"That was another point of emphasis tonight, the physicality and just getting down the court as fast as possible. We have guys who like to get out and play in transition and that plays to our strengths a lot.”

After the game, Booker credited Landale for having a difficult task of guarding Denver's two-time MVP Nikola Jokic (28 points, 17 points, 17 assists, one block, game-high six turnovers), and getting defensive stops by crashing the glass to help pace the Suns' runs.

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“He’s a playmaker, too. That’s a tough assignment he has down there fighting with Jokic, and the times they don’t score to get the ball and outlet it as soon as possible is a skill for a big," Booker said about Landale, the Suns' backup center.

"I think we’ve seen Kevin Love has been having success with it, with Miami now. Those plays are very underrated to be able to get a rebound and get it out for your teammate that quick and then spring the floor after that. So you’re asking him to do a lot and he’s built for it.”

Landale stepped up during Deandre Ayton's off night (four points, nine rebounds, one block).

Phoenix coach Monty Williams decided to keep Landale on the floor at the end of the game with Durant, Booker, T.J. Warren (seven points, three rebounds, one block), and Cameron Payne.

"Jock was giving us great energy," Williams said. "I thought his pressure on the rim, just in transition, opened up a ton of lanes for all of our guys to attack the paint tonight in transition and then he just scrapped. You couldn’t point out anything that he did from a high-level skill perspective, but he just scrapped and even when he was guarding (Jamal) Murray or guarding the smalls, he just competed and guys have tough games.

"D.A. (Deandre Ayton) didn’t have his best tonight but it’s great to have your brother out there that can pick it up for you.”

The second-year Landale said during a preseason interview on Bally Sports Arizona that he wasn't a highly touted college recruit. So he's had to fight for everything in his career to earn his spot coming from Australia to playing at St. Marys, the only Division I school that offered him a scholarship.

So Landale's confidence against Jokic, a triple-double threat who had his way doing whatever he wanted on the court, didn't lower Landale's confidence going up against him on Friday and in this series.

“It’s not really too much about keeping the confidence level. I think you’re gonna give up buckets, you’re gonna give up all that stuff," Landale said.

"He’s a phenomenal player. I think it’s just having that resilience to just continue to battle, continue to fight and I think I’m kind of built of that. I’ve had to do a lot of my career. It’s not really a confidence thing. He’s a two-time MVP for a reason. He’s gonna get his, but a lot of it is going at him again and again and just sticking with it.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Booker says Landale's rebounding paced Suns in Game 3 win over Nuggets