Nba playoff, Paul launches Phoenix in New Orleans: series 2-1

He did it again. Chris Paul is the man of providence for Phoenix, the brave captain to be asked to take the ship beyond the storm. And Point God never backs down. His fourth stint in New Orleans is a lesson in talent from a nearly 37-year-old with a craving for the first NBA ring of his Hall of Fame career. Paul with 19 of his 28 points in the last quarter signs the 114-111 of Phoenix in game-3 which is worth 2-1 in the series, with the fourth game scheduled in New Orleans on the Italian night between Sunday and Monday. Without Devin Booker, his partner in crime who may be out for 2 weeks with a right hamstring problem, Paul knew the Suns needed him more than usual. And he painted another fabulous masterpiece. New Orleans is growing visibly in every game, with the duo Brandon Ingram (34 points) -CJ McCollum (30) at ease on the most important stage. But there was nothing to be done against this Paul.

Point God

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Paul is the soul of the Suns, the not too secret ingredient that has transformed them from a team with a promising future to one capable of competing for the title since last year. CP3 knows how to impose its will on games through assists (14 with 0 turnovers in Game-3), but also knows how to make a difference when needed. Also in race-1 he had put 19 points in the final period to keep the exuberance of New Orleans at bay. This time he did the same: understood that DeAndre Ayton (28 points and 17 rebounds) had exhausted his streak in the third quarter, Paul took over the attack of the Suns and instead of leading it with passes that put the receiver only in condition to make a basket he put the ball in the bottom of the retina. New Orleans knew Phoenix would play like that in the finale, yet they couldn’t stop him. In addition to CP3 and Ayton, Mikal Bridges did well (17 points, 9 rebounds and a crescendo finish) and JaVale McGee, 15 points off the bench. Blank pass for Sam Johnson, chosen by coach Williams as Booker’s replacement in the quintet but never really effective.

Applause

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Only the talent of a phenomenon like Paul stopped the Pelicans. New Orleans is playing these playoffs with the head of someone who has nothing to lose because it has already achieved its goal of the season. But the young Pelicans, now that they are at the big ball, are showing that they can dance. Thanks to Ingram and McCollum first of all, the pillars of a young team with enormous margins for improvement. If CP3 was impossible to stop in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans gave the Suns a hand with 15 turnovers (23 points from Phoenix), an inability to limit opponents close to the iron (64 points in the box) and the nonsense with which Jaxson Hayes got kicked out 5’13 ”from half-time (free push to Jae Crowder, with whom he had been getting caught for a while) forcing Coach Green to review the rotations. In addition to Ingram and McCollum, still excellent signals from Herbert Jones, the rookie to whom coach Green asked the mission impossible to stop CP3: he still managed not to make a bad impression. However, New Orleans played until the end with the team that dominated the regular season, igniting the enthusiasm of the super-hot Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans grow with every game: on Sunday in game-4 they will have to show that they have learned their lesson.

The match

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Phoenix accelerates in the final of the first half, breaking the balance and arriving at the break ahead 59-48. Ayton, dominant before the break, signs the 66-53 Suns at 9’44 “from the third siren, but New Orleans closes the hole pushed by Ingram (10 points in the period) and McCollum and the last 12 ‘begin with the guests ahead 81 -79. It is at this point that Phoenix asks Paul to dominate. And he doesn’t hold back, dragging the Suns with his baggage of talent and experience to a 2-1 win.

New Orleans: Ingram 34 (8/13 from two, 3/6 from three, 9/10 free throws), McCollum 30, Jones 12, Graham 12. Rebounds: Valanciunas 11. Assists: McCollum 7.

Phoenix: Paul 28 (9/12, 1/6, 7/8 tl), Ayton 28 (12/19, 1/1, 1/1 tl), Bridges 17. Rebounds: Ayton 17. Assists: Paul 14.