Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton help Booker-less Suns beat Pelicans 114-111

Chris Paul was there when the Phoenix Suns needed him the most.

Paul scored 19 of his 28 points during the fourth quarter, and the Suns defeated Devin Booker’s absence to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 114-111, in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Deandre Ayton scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help the Suns, who are top-seeded, take a 2-1 series lead. Paul scored 15 of Phoenix’s first 23 points of the final quarter. He also had 14 assists.

“He’s just one of those players that plays the right way,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “He understands the ‘when’ and ‘how’ to create for himself and others. The leadership qualities that you guys don’t see in the timeouts is just as impressive as what he does on the floor.”

Paul was a facilitator for the first three quarters. He had 12 assists, and only eight shots were taken.

After New Orleans took its final lead, 93-92, with 5:37 left on Jose Alvarado’s spinning layup, Paul connected on three consecutive midrange jumpers – from 14, 12 and 15 feet – as Phoenix took control, 98-93. Paul hit another lane jumper, and made four free throws to ice the game in the final 1 minutes 32.

“It’s a big win for us,” Paul said, citing Booker’s absence. “We knew it was going be by committee. We knew it would be difficult when you came into this arena, but everyone pitched in tonight.”

JaVale McGee, whose 7-of-8 shooting was facilitated by Paul’s passing mastery, said he continues to be amazed by the 36-year-old point guard.

“It’s amazing just seeing the concentration, the focus and just the brains he has and the vision he has,” McGee said. “He reads a play, and the defense will switch, and he’s always analyzing. He’s listening to calls that other players are calling.”

After scoring 31 points in the first half of a loss at home to 125-114, Booker injured his right hamstring Tuesday evening. He sat down during Game 3.

Mikal Bridges scored 17 for the Suns. As the Suns harmed the Pelicans inside, backup center JaVale McGee scored fifteen points on 7-of-8 shots.

New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram had 34 points. CJ McCollum had 30.

Ingram stated that they attacked the open areas and received good looks, especially for Ayton. “CP did a good job at getting to his spots in game one.”

Sunday night is Game 4 in New Orleans

“It’s a long series,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said. “We’ve just got to continue to stay with it; continue to wear them down. We can’t turn the ball over. We have to ensure we get back in transition.”

Jose Alvarado kept Pelicans in the lead in the fourth quarter with seven consecutive points. But Paul answered with five points straight and an assist to tie it at 91 with 6:32 remaining. Paul had eight consecutive points to give him a lead of 98-93.

The Suns led 66-53 early in the third quarter. However, New Orleans pulled away at 66-63 with a 12-0 run over 2:43. McCollum was the catalyst, scoring a 3-pointer as well as a layup. New Orleans pulled to 81 79 at the end of the fourth quarter thanks to a 31-22 third period run.

McCollum’s 16-foot jumper with 5:13 left in the first half tied it at 43, but while the ball was in the air, Pelicans forward Jaxson Hayes barreled into Jae Crowder, who was standing on the baseline near the basket. Hayes’ shoulder-to-chest foul was reviewed and earned him a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection.

This dustup sparked a 16-5 Phoenix run that closed the half. The Suns led 59 to 48 at intermission.

Ayton was held to 10 points in Game 2 against New Orleans. He had 21 points in halftime on 10-of-14 shooting. Four of his baskets were made on feeds from Paul.

TIP INS

Suns: Monty Williams, coach of the Suns, said that he was pleased with how the Suns held the Pelicans down to just one offensive rebound during the second half. … Ayton and McGee combined on 20-of-28 shooting. In 40 minutes, Paul had no turnovers.

Pelicans: Reserve PG Devonte GRAHAM, who has struggled offensively in the past, had 11 first-points. He also made three 3-pointers. … Green stated that he could feel a growing momentum among Pelicans supporters in a city that is not normally considered a football town. “We’re thankful and grateful for our fans and the support that we’ve been getting,” he said. “We’re trying to put a team forward that represents the city well, and I think we’re moving in the right direction, and I think people can feel that.”