In Game 2 of the playoffs, the Pelicans seized the opportunity to pull back a city. Booker once went on a 17-second run in the first half, scoring 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting and 7-of-10 three-pointers. Booker's powerful scoring explosion masked the Suns' slump on the offensive end of the game, and by the end of the first half, he scored 31 points, which was better than the other teammates in total.
On the Pelicans, although they have been lagging behind, they have tightened their grip on the gap, maintained suspense, and waited for the opportunity to set off a counterattack reversal. At 61-56, the Suns were just five points ahead, and the Pelicans waited for an opportunity to finally get a good chance in the second half.
After the start of the second half, the Suns were clearly in a passive position, with Jones, Hayes and Ingram thrusting back-and-forth. Booker did not continue his previous gorgeous performance, but watched his teammates in poor form. Crowder, Paul and Bridges hit the iron, and the Pelicans quickly overtook. After a wave of attack, for the sun, the broken house was in the overnight rain, and Booker suddenly left the field early due to a left hamstring injury.
Booker's departure caused the sun to suffer a blow, and it was difficult to adapt to this sudden change. As a result, the Suns lost the strong temperament of the regular season league number one, but were suppressed by the Pelicans, and although the Suns once overtook in the last quarter, Ingram and McCollum withstood the pressure and helped the Pelicans pull back a city. Without an offensive core like Booker, the Sun fell into the downwind in a key-moment stalemate.
This game should have been Booker's performance battle, but unfortunately he withdrew due to injury, bringing many follow-up problems. With 31 points at halftime, Booker hit 30+ at half-time for the second time in his playoff career and hit 7 three-pointers, achieving the first player in history; Booker was also the first player in playoff history to shoot 30+ at halftime without any free throws.
After the game, Booker's injury was also exposed. It is reported that although the hamstring strain is not a serious injury, it is also a problem that can be large or small. For example, in last year's playoffs, Harden was in poor condition due to a hamstring strain, and the Nets could not go further in the end. The general hamstring strain will be divided into 3 different levels, if it is a mild strain, the player may only be on the daily watch list; if the first degree strain, it will take a 7-10 days suspension; and the second degree strain will take several weeks to recover.
Booker's case should theoretically be within the range of a first-degree strain. But for the series, Booker missed a few games, and anything could happen. This season, the Suns have ushered in the best window for the championship, and if they are counterattacked by black nine because of Booker's absence, then the fate of the Suns and Paul is also too tragic.