On April 23, 2022, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs continued, and in the Suns' away challenge to the Pelicans, the team was still on the dominant side without Booker. The Pelicans had a slight advantage in the first quarter, scoring 29 points, one point ahead of the opponent, and then in the second quarter, the Suns suddenly went on to cut 31 points in a single quarter, winning 12 points in a single quarter, and already 11 points ahead of the opponent in the half.
The Pelicans played well in the third quarter that followed, scoring 31 points in a single quarter, narrowing the gap to just two points, and the two sides also entered the final quarter of the decisive moment! Paul stepped up at key moments, and he scored consecutive points from mid-range in the fourth quarter to help the team win, and finally the Suns beat their opponents 114:111, taking a 2-1 lead!
Ayton played 35 minutes in this game, shooting 13 of 20 from the field, and got 28 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block, and Paul also played a very good performance, he shot 10 of 18, got 28 points, 4 rebounds and 14 assists! These two men largely filled the offensive gap that Booker did not appear on the team!
In the crucial fourth quarter of the game, Paul came to São Paulo again, he hit 7 mid-range shots in a single quarter, no matter who came to defend Paul could not limit him, in the last quarter Paul cut 19 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, in the fourth quarter once again played a historic level of form!
It can be said that without Booker, the Suns' defense has indeed been greatly affected, but under Paul's leadership, they can still win the game. Paul in the last quarter of the game is really terrible, and judging by the state of the game, even without Booker, they have a good chance of breaking through the first round!