Just five days after Chris Paul scored 19 points in the final quarter to help the Phoenix Suns win his first playoff victory, he scored another 19 points in the final quarter to lead the team to a 114-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Back where the dream began, Chris Paul responded to the boos of New Orleans fans in the most classic way!
Chris Paul, 37, is playing in the game for 10 of 18 shots in 40 minutes and 7 of 8 from the free throw line, 28 points, 4 rebounds, 14 assists and 0 turnovers!
According to statistics, Paul has delivered 28 assists in the last two games (G2 contributed 17 points and 14 assists, G3 contributed 28 points and 14 assists) and did not make a mistake, surpassing Stockton to set the NBA record of 0 failed assists in two consecutive playoff games since the 1977-78 season! It was also the seventh time paul had at least 10 assists in the playoffs without errors, ranking first in history, with "Magic" Johnson (4 times) and Larry Bird (3 times) ranking 2-3 each, adding up to the same as Paul alone.
In the final quarter, with the Pelicans fighting back, there were four lead changes and five draws. Phoenix needed Paul to come forward at the end of the quarter. Ayton told Paul he needed to stop passing, attack himself and throw more balls. Paul did just that, making 5 of his mid-range jumpers to keep Phoenix on the lead. In the single quarter, Paul scored 19 points. In the whole game, 9 of Paul's 10 goals were hit by his own offensive ability. It was exactly the first replay of the series, when Paul scored 19 points and two assists on 7-of-8 shooting in the final quarter to lead the Suns to a pelicans' counterattack. Today, Paul used 19 points in a single quarter to lead the team to victory in a very unfavorable situation.
His teammate Javier McGee has been watching Paul cast magic against his team for years. This year, he finally witnessed it with his own eyes. "Every time I see him I impress," McKee said of Paul. "He's doing the same thing every year. Throughout the game he will facilitate others and if we need him he will step up and start taking over the game. His no-solution shot was fantastic. ”
Paul also praised McGee when it came to McGee: "He's fantastic, it's game three and when Nance Jr. comes on, they're ready to switch sides indefinitely. So we want McGee to punish him on the inside, McGee's energy infects everyone, he grabs rebounds, he has a second offense to score. ”
Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns are facing Devin Booker's injuries. With his hamstring injury in the first round, without their All-Star guard, the team must now find a way to take the New Orleans Pelicans. Most fans feel that the Suns are still the main choice of the top seeded team. However, one in the league believes the Pelicans have an advantage. He's Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.
Dream said on his podcast show: "New Orleans now has the upper hand because after Booker was out, they had the best two players in the series. The sun has a hard time overcoming this. He was soon added that there was no disrespect for Chris Paul. ”
Anyone with a discerning eye can see what Green is implying: on the one hand, he thinks the Suns' point guard is old, and on the other hand, he thinks that Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum's duo is better than the current CP3.
However, Green ignores the fact that even though he is almost 37 years old, Paul is still an absolutely extraordinary player and leader. His mastery of the Suns' tactics, as well as his mid-range advantage and key performances, has been the catalyst for the team's success this season. Saying CP3 isn't as good as Ingram and McCollum feels like contempt for the god-level point guard.
Believe Paul will eventually shut up Draymond Green and those who question him in this series!
Paul made his first playoff for the Hornets 14 years ago, when the 22-year-old led the team to seven games with the Spurs in the divisional semifinals, and although he failed to touch the floor of the Western Conference Finals, the title of "Queen Bee" was the best gift given to him by the new Orleans. 14 years later, Paul gave a great performance to the fans who had cheered for him countless times, as if to remind everyone that he was once the owner of this place!