On May 3, Beijing time, the Lone Ranger and the Suns began the first battle of the series. The Suns opened the game with a double-digit point difference, and although Doncic scored 26 points at halftime, it was still difficult to stop the team from falling behind, and the Suns extended to a 17-point advantage at the end of the third quarter. At one point in the final moments of the final quarter, the Lone Ranger narrowed the point difference to single digits, but there was little time left or he was powerless to return to the sky. In the end, the Suns defeated the Lone Ranger 121-114 to take a 1-0 lead on aggregate.
Match data
Lone Ranger: Doncic had 45 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists (40+ for the sixth time in his playoff career), Kléber scored 19 points, Brunson 13 points, and Smith had 15 points and six rebounds
Suns: Ayton 25 points, 8 rebounds, Booker 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, Paul 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists (surpassed Parker in the playoffs to rise to 5th all-time), Johnson had 17 points and 5 rebounds, Crowder had 11 points and 8 rebounds, Bridges had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks
Star of the Field: Ayton plays efficiently to destroy the Maverick Inside Line
In this campaign, Ayton grasped his absolute advantage on the inside line, cutting points efficiently throughout the game, and the range covered from the basket to the free throw line. With his steady ability to finish, the Suns eventually took on the Lone Ranger.
Game tidbits
Level 1 malicious foul! Claude kicked Doncic to the heart of the punch
Freak out Doncic! Kléber landed on his back in the air
Highlights of this session
Steals and dunks! Bridges began with an explosion
High difficult throwing! Doncic was able to beat him
Empty cut burst buckle! McKee took off to abuse the basket
The old cannon is powered! Paul gave three points and then scratched his head in celebration
Can this also be hated? Bridges fanned Brock for three points
Widen the 18-point gap! Payne pressed a three-point shot
Steal Doncic + a dragon dunk! McKee ignited the Suns home
Game review
Paul hit a jumper in the first quarter, Bridges hit a dunk, Booker broke through to take the point, and then Crowder sent a three-pointer, and the Lone Ranger started 0-9 behind. Doncic jumped to stop the bleeding, Smith made a basket, Ayton sent a 2+1, Booker hit both free throws to give the Suns a 14-4 lead. Booker and Ayton then scored consecutive points, and the two sides opened a 14-point gap. Booker fed a technical foul to send a free throw, Kléber sent a three-pointer, and then McGee dunked and the Lone Ranger trailed 12-26. Kleber and Doncic hit three consecutive points, Booker scored five consecutive points in return, then Kleber hit another three points, Doncic hit a layup, and the Lone Ranger trailed 23-31. Payne scored on a layup, Johnson responded with a breakthrough and two free throws to give the Suns a 35-25 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Payne broke through to take points, Kléber sent another three points, Brunson sent 2+1, and the Lone Ranger chased the 9-point gap. Crowder made a layup to stop the bleeding, Bertans hit a three-pointer, Claude immediately responded, then Johnson jumped to take the point, and Crowder kicked to doncic's key point and was blown a malicious foul. Kléber sent in a three-pointer and Ayton threw a shot to give the Suns a 51-38 lead. The Lone Ranger suddenly burst out a wave of 9-0 to chase 4 points, Ayton scored 4 consecutive points to stop the bleeding, Kleber made two free throws, Booker broke through the dunk, Doncic made two free throws, and then Johnson sent a three-pointer, and the Suns opened up the 10-point gap again at 60-50. Paul hit another three-pointer and the Suns led by 13 points to call the Lone Rangers to a halt. Doncic made a layup and Ayton hit a jumper to hit a whistle to give the Suns a 69-56 lead into the second half.
In the third quarter, Powell hit a layup, Booker scored a jump shot, Doncic sent a 2+1, Ayton sent a dunk, Doncic forced the basket to hit again, and the Lone Ranger trailed 63-73. Brunson then threw a shot, Paul sent a magic 2+1, Booker hit a jump shot, and then Smith returned the long-range shot, and the Lone Ranger trailed 68-78. Ayton scored from the basket, Bullock sent a three-pointer, Ayton hooked a shot, Smith and Kleber hit two consecutive free throws, then Johnson sent a three-pointer, Smith sent a dunk, and the Lone Ranger trailed 75-85. Paul hit a jumper and Johnson and Payne sent back-to-back three-pointers to give the Suns a 93-75 lead. Dinwiddie and Bridges faced off for three points, Doncic made two free throws and the Lone Ranger trailed 79-96 into the final quarter.
In the last quarter Johnson hit a jumper, Kleber hit a dunk, Bridges scored a jump shot, Brunson broke through the shot, and the Lone Ranger trailed 83-100. Brunson then hit a layup, Johnson and McGee dunked consecutively, Smith sent three points, and the Lone Ranger trailed 90-106. Ayton hit two free throws and then Doncic scored three points in a row to make the Lone Ranger trail 93-106. Paul sent a fantastic three-pointer, Brunson and Doncic scored five straight points, and the Lone Ranger trailed for 11 points. Paul hit the board and the Suns led 111-98. Paul hit two free throws and the Suns stretched a 15-point gap in the last 2 minutes. The Lone Ranger suddenly exerted his strength and at one point narrowed the point difference to 6 points. Unfortunately, there is little time left, and in the end, the Sun has the thrill to defeat the Lone Ranger.
Both sides started
Lone Rangers: Brunson, Doncic, Bullock, Finney Smith, Powell
Suns: Paul, Booker, Bridges, Claude, Ayton