seventh Pay Fee: After the middle, this state additionally elevated the DA of staff, arrears will are available two installments

NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul went 14 for 14 in one of the best capturing night time in NBA playoff historical past, Devin Booker returned from a hamstring harm to hit a late 3-pointer and the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 on Thursday night time to complete off the first-round sequence in six video games.

Paul had essentially the most subject objectives with no miss in a playoff sport, hit all 4 of his free throws and had eight assists because the top-seeded Suns overcame a 10-point halftime deficit.

Phoenix will face the Dallas-Utah winner within the second spherical.

Paul helped put the Suns up for good, at 102-101, on an help on Deandre Ayton’s dunk with 2:12 left. Ayton had 22 factors on 10-of-12 capturing.

The Suns erased the 10-point halftime deficit by making 13 of their first 14 pictures within the third quarter to take a 77-74 lead. At that time, Paul was 10 of 10 from the sector and Ayton was 6 of 6. Paul had 13 factors within the quarter, however New Orleans used an 11-5 run to take an 85-82 lead into the ultimate interval.

Booker performed for the primary time in 9 days since injuring his proper hamstring after scoring 31 factors within the first half of Recreation 2. He scored 13 factors on 5-of-12 capturing and had 5 rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes.

Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 21 factors.

The sport received chippy within the second quarter — there have been 16 fouls known as — and the Pelicans appeared to revel within the bodily play, outsourcing the Suns 30-20 to take a 58-48 halftime lead.

TIP INS

Suns: Phoenix coach Monty Williams mentioned Booker ramped up his conditioning whereas nursing a hamstring harm by taking part in one-on-one with assistant coach Jarrett Jack within the final a number of days. “He’s been on the ground with Jack just a few instances, doing one of the best he can to get to that time,” Williams mentioned.

Pelicans: The Pelicans began the season 1-12 and 3-16 however nonetheless made the play-in event and pushed the top-seeded Suns to a Recreation 6. … The Pelicans outrebounded the Suns 279-215 in six playoff video games.

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