On April 27, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs Suns vs. Pelicans G5, Paul tried his best, tired and gasping. However, the scene in which he kicked someone during the game sparked controversy.
Booker continues to be absent and for the Suns, they need Paul to step up. In the last game, Paul arguably played the worst game of his playoff career, scoring only 4 points, no three-point shots, no free throw hits. However, it's hard to expect Paul to go down two times in a row.
The Pelicans traced back to Willie Green before the game and said, "Paul is going to play aggressively today, it's that simple. Coach Monti revealed that Paul was completely healthy and, in fact, motivated him to step up and take over the game.
After the first half of the game, Paul, 36, bent down and gasped for breath in exhaustion. He played 21 minutes, shooting 6-of-12, 4 free throws, scoring a game-high 16 points plus 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, really fighting. However, Barkley raised concerns, "He is almost exhausted, as I said before, I am worried about him." ”
It is worth mentioning that in the game, Paul also staged a controversial scene, facing Alvarado's defense, Paul stopped the jump shot, there was a leg-raising kicking action, and the Pelican defender covered his stomach and squatted in pain. Expert John Hollinger believes that Paul's kicking is quite obvious, and he wonders if the league will pursue Paul.