Jock Landale’s emergence as a key piece of the Phoenix rotation continued on Monday as the Suns outlasted the Denver Nuggets 127-122 in Game 4 of their Western Conference semi-finals series.

The Australian’s plus-minus of +16 ranked the best among players in both teams, with Landale putting up eight points to go with five rebounds, one block, a steal and an assist.

Landale, who was a standout big at St Mary’s before eventually getting his chance in the NBA at San Antonio, has seen a steady increase in minutes this playoff series.

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The 27-year-old saw just 15 minutes in the first two games of the series but has benefited from starting center Deandre Ayton’s struggles, playing 43 minutes in Games 3 and 4.

Landale is the ultimate team player though and passionately defended Ayton after Suns coach Monty Williams decided to close Game 3 with the Australian instead.

Landale had six points, nine rebounds and one steal in that game and picked up where he left off early in his first minutes on Monday, coming up with a crucial steal and assist.

Terrence Ross had just made a 3-point jumper to reduce Denver’s lead late in the first quarter to 33-28 and momentum then well and truly tipped in Phoenix’s favour after Landale pounced on a bad pass from Bruce Brown, dishing out a bucket for teammate Devin Booker.

Landale’s general physicality and hustle on both ends proved invaluable, whether he was grabbing offensive rebounds or blocking a Michael Porter Jr. shot in the fourth quarter.

“Landale once again showing his value,” Grant Hill said in commentary of the block.

“A great contest. Good defence.”

“Landale a big part of the rotation during the regular season for Monty Williams, didn’t play much early in this series but boy he’s becoming a key piece,” added Spero Dedes.

Landale earned high praise from Williams after Game 3, with the Suns coach particularly complimentary of the “energy” the Australian played with.

“He just scrapped,” Williams said.

“You couldn’t point out anything that he did from a high-level skill perspective. But he just scrapped.”

It wasn’t just Williams though, with Nuggets coach Michael Malone also impressed by the Australian’s scrambling efforts on both sides of the ball.

“He was just active,” Malone said ahead of Game 4.

“I give him credit. I think he’s just come into this series and impacted in a positive way. Activity, offensive rebounding, physicality, aggression.

“Obviously he earned Monty’s trust in minutes in that game and if he continues to play like that he’ll get more and more minutes but you have to give him a lot of credit for how hard he is playing, which is what you want from guys that are sometimes deemed role players.

“Role player is a dirty word and I don’t know why. He’s embracing his role and doing really well.”

The series between the Suns and Nuggets is now tied at 2-2, with Booker and Kevin Durant once again stepping up when Phoenix needed it most.

With Chris Paul still sidelined through injury, the Suns are heavily reliant on their superstar duo and they delivered with 36 points each.

Booker also added 12 assists and six rebounds while Durant had 11 defensive boards and six assists in the win.

Landry Shamet was the surprise hero off the bench for Phoenix though, catching fire late to finish the game with 19 points, including five 3-pointers.

Phoenix’s bench outscored Denver’s 40-11 as a 53-point explosion from Nikola Jokic failed to get the Nuggets over the line.

It was a historic statement from Jokic, who became the first center in the NBA to put up more than 50 points and 10 assists in a playoff game.

Jokic got help from Jamal Murray (28 points) but Michael Porter Jr. struggled to find his shooting rhythm, going 2-for-9 from deep to finish with 11 points.

For all his brilliance Jokic did come up with a costly turnover and missed shot late in the piece but ultimately the Nuggets wouldn’t have even been a hope without him.