En a vibrant match and with Brandon Ingram as a star, New Orleans Pelicans they took this tuesday Phoenix (114-125) to tie their first-round series at 1-1 against some Suns that, in addition to the defeat, they left worried about the injury of Devin Booker.
The shooting guard, who had dazzled in the first half with 31 points, was injured in the hamstring of his right leg in the third quarter and remained with a very serious face on the bench for the remainder of the match.
Suns coach, Monty WilliamsHe said after the meeting that on Wednesday they will have more information about the injury.
First in the West with the best record in the league, the Suns couldn’t stop some sweeping Pelicans with an exceptional Ingram: 37 points (13 of 21 shooting), 11 rebounds and nine assists.
CJ McCollum (23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists) also shone for a Pelicans team that controlled the rebound (43-33) and made 54.8% of their shots (17 of 30 on three-pointers).
the spanish Willy Hernangmez I didn’t play for the Pelicans while Jos Alvaradoof Mexican and Puerto Rican roots, had 8 points (3 of 3 shooting), 3 assists and a steal.
The series now travels to New Orleanswhere the third game will be played on Friday and the fourth will be played on Sunday.
Spectacular Booker
The Pelicans came out very plugged in. Dominating the rebound and fearless on offense, New Orleans took the lead in the first quarter (30-28) with Ingram (11 points) and McCollum (7 points) leading the charge.
Booker was spectacular in the opening quarter (16 points with 4 of 6 triples) but the Suns, usually a very choral team, left him too alone.
Under Paul’s orders, the second unit spiced up the Suns with Bridges, McGee y Payne contributing their grain of sand and adding to the defense (42-41 with 5.23 for the break).
Booker’s return cemented the Suns’ improvement, as the shooting guard returned to the court as sweeping as in the first quarter and was lethal from 3-point range.
Thus, the Suns went to the locker room ahead (61-56) thanks to a triple from the logo and on Booker’s buzzer that culminated his extraordinary performance in the first half: 31 points with 12 of 18 shots (7 of 10 in triples).
And huge Ingram
Despite Booker’s whirlwind, the Pelicans had put on a very solid image. In this way, the visitors continued with their roadmap after the break and, with an explosive Ingram, they regained control of the game in a great start to the third quarter (67-71 with 7.49 left).
The game gained in speed, something that benefited the Pelicans, and also in revolutions: Bridges put a big block in the post to Hayes and he responded with a two-handed block on Bridges on the next play.
In any case, the wind was blowing in favor of the Pelicans, who sharpened their defense to run on the counterattack, who had a differential Ingram (14 points in the third quarter) and in which Hayes and Nance Jr. they increased the versatility of their offense.
Booker was left without scoring in the third quarter and did not play anymore due to his injury, so the Pelicans came sending the outcome (83-90) after a 22-34 in the penultimate quarter.
Johnson and Bridges pulled caste for a Suns that went ahead briefly (96-95 with 8.22 to go).
However, the Pelicans took out the hammer in those last eight minutes (18-30 of the quarter) with Valanciunas hitting everyone in the area, with McCollum as a silent assassin and with Ingram who closed his splendid night with a display of powerful scoring. .