Game 4 of the series
Chris Paul, 36, saved the team again and again in the final quarter, giving us a glimpse of the king of the last quarter. However, this is only the first round of the playoffs, the first sun in the league, paul needs to stand up to save the field, so how to survive the next Western Conference semifinals and Western Conference Finals, as well as the Finals? Booker's injury seems to have lifted the fig leaf of the sun, and this team is indeed the only one except Booker, Paul, who has the threat of attacking with the ball.
The series led 2-1, won 2 games, Paul blasted 19 points in the final quarter, this crucial G4, the Suns want to win, or can only rely on Chris Paul. Paul was able to take over the game in the final quarter, though, but in the first three quarters, the Suns needed someone to step up and help the team through the storm.
Paul is no longer magical
At the beginning of the first quarter, the Suns' twin towers showed their strength, Ayton had 10 points and 2 rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting, McGee had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist on 2-of-2 shooting, Paul had 4 points, 1 assist and 1 steal, the Suns scored 22 points in the single quarter, and the Pelicans scored 25 points, all of which came from Ingram and McCollum and Varan. After returning from the second quarter, Paul delivered five assists in a single quarter, Cameron Johnson hit two three-pointers to get 10 points and 2 rebounds, and Bridges also had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Suns, who play team basketball, scored 29 points in the quarter, while the Pelicans scored just 24 points. So, at the end of the half, the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans by two points at 51-49. In the second half, Ingram completely took over the game, shooting 7 of 11, with 16 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in a single quarter, which was simply unstoppable. Under Ingram's leadership, the Pelicans scored 35 points in a single quarter, while the Suns scored only 23 points, Paul did not score one point on 0-of-3 shooting, and the Pelicans managed to surpass 10 points.
In the final quarter of the game, the Pelicans frantically limited Paul and did not give him a chance to shoot, after all, there were two lessons from the past. Alvarado even restricted Paul from being able to hold the ball through halfway, a direct 8-second violation. The Suns narrowed their points to four with team basketball, but Varan scored seven straight points, Jones scored steals, Paul lost a malicious foul, and the Pelicans made two free throws. After Alvarado made both free throws, the Pelicans' lead came to 16 points, and at the crucial moment, Crowder snatched a quick-break score.
However, this fast attack did not reverse the situation on the court, the Pelicans are still scoring, there is no way, the Suns can only replace the main force, announcing the loss of the pitch. With the final whistle sounding, the New Orleans Pelicans finally won 118-103 at home to the Phoenix Suns, and the series scored a 2-2 tie.
The Black Nine Miracle is expected
15-point win, 2-2 draw with the Suns! Paul 8-pointers and the Pelicans may stage a Black Nine miracle. This is the stage of the playoffs, whether you are the league number one or a superstar, it doesn't matter, the game is only winning and losing, and the winner is king. The Pelicans did it, Ingram blasted down 30 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, and his personal performance was impeccable, Valanciunas also had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists, McCollum had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, Jones 13 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, as well as 2 steals and 3 blocks.
Without Booker, the Pelicans do have a chance to complete the Black Nine Miracle, which no one should doubt. Paul shot 2-of-8, 0 points in the final quarter, and only 4 points, 2 rebounds and 11 assists in the game, which is no longer magical. Ayton had 23 points, eight rebounds and one assist on 11-of-14 shooting, McGee on the bench had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist on 7-of-7 shooting, and Crowder had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The next fifth game, that is, the Battle of Tennoyama, will be played at the home of the Suns, this game, most likely to determine the outcome of the series, let's look forward to it!