Nba playoff, Phoenix comes back on: 3-2 in the series on New Orleans

Maybe the Suns thought they would close this series first, but Devin Booker’s injury and, above all, the quality and tenacity of the opponents prevented this from happening. Phoenix is ​​now one step away from the 2nd round, after the victory in Game 5 for 112-97 against the Pelicans which leads the series to 3-2. A splendid match for competitive intensity, dominated by the talent of Mikal Bridges, who in addition to the 31 points scored managed to influence every aspect of the team’s performance. He was the real driver this time.

Bridges

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Back and forth at full speed, from one bottom line to the next, never stopping. Defending against Ingram, McCollum and anyone who passed him. Steals, blocks, detours. Bridges challenged everything he could. Every shot and every choice of the opponent. In attack to dunk, to shoot three from the corner and to move constantly to open the field and put pressure on the defense. A superlative all-around performance of 31 points, shooting with 70.6% from the field (12/17) and 4/4 from three, as well as 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 recovery and 4 blocks. Bridges was on the court for 47 minutes out of 48. “You can’t clone him, but you wish you could. He’s one of those rare basketball players who can play that way in defense but also manage to give that offensive production in terms of points. he gave it tonight, “coach Monty Williams told him at the press conference.

Intense

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The Suns played a very physical basketball in defense and built their attack very well using Chris Paul’s vision of the game (22 points, 11 assists with 1 turnover, 6 rebounds and 3 steals) and the presence in the center of the area. Deandre Ayton (19 points and 9 rebounds), also often used as a passer. 50% of the shot produced by the team with 28 assisted baskets well illustrates the offensive balance of Phoenix, who has always tried to generate the best possible shot, both in transition (23 points scored by opponent turnover) and in defense. The only flaw in the performance of the Suns is that +18 gained in the 3rd quarter but not fully capitalized. At that moment the game was definitively put on ice and instead the Pelicans managed to return slowly, without ever putting their head forward. In later rounds, if he clearly qualifies, Phoenix will not be able to afford it.

Pelicans

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They fought against a much stronger team than them, even without Booker, and they stayed in the game until the end. Because beyond the technical errors and the partial suffered, the Pelicans have kept the mind cold and the heart warm. Jose Alvarado (12 points and 2 steals) was the man who in the 4th period pushed his teammates towards a possible comeback, driving Paul mad and always finding the right play to ignite the competition. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, 43 points overall, had little or no impact in the 4th period and that’s where the game was decided. New Orleans suffered a lot from the physical defense of Phoenix (40% from the field, 20% from three and 15 turnovers) and only managed to survive, not find answers and counterattack. The team, however, is alive and in Game 6 will give everything to extend the series.

The match

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It is Phoenix who controls the pace and intensity of the match in the 1st half with Paul and Ayton writing the offensive score and Bridges setting the defensive tone to the team. The Suns closed the 1st quarter with a partial 11-2 (32-20) and retouched up the gap at the interval (59-46). New Orleans, however, is in the game. He competes, taking a hit especially in defense, and makes his opponents sweat every basket. The Suns are also ahead at the end of the 3rd quarter (89-78) and have a record 49-0 this season when they take the lead in the last 12 ‘. Alvarado enters under the skin with the energy of him and New Orleans follows him, always remaining with the breath on the neck of the opponents. Coach Green’s team reaches -7 when there are 2 ‘to the siren (104-97). Phoenix then closes it with a super dunk by Cam Johnson in transition and a 2/2 from the line by Bridges, preceded by a defensive stop on the triple attempted by Herb Jones. It is Bridges himself, then, with two dunks in a row to put the exclamation point on the 3-2 Suns. Race 6 Friday night in New Orleans.

Phoenix: Bridges 31 (12/17, 4/4 of three, 3/3 tl), Paul 22, Ayton 19. Rebounds: Ayton 9. Assists: Paul 11.

New Orleans: Ingram 22 (7/19, 1/5 of three, 7/11 tl), McCollum 21, Valanciunas 17. Rebounds: Valanciunas 14. Assist: Ingram 5.