PHOENIX – – Michal Bridges was playing his 47th minute of basketball on Tuesday night when he jumped in the air, threw a huge jam with both hands and stood on the edge with a slightly sneering good measure.
He is the man who does everything for these Phoenix Suns. And no, he’s not even tired.
Bridges scored 31 points and blocked four shots in perhaps the best game of his professional career, leading the Suns over the New Orleans Pelicans 112-97 to take a 3-2 lead in the first round of the Western Conference.
“I’m ready to play tomorrow,” Bridges said with a big smile at the post-match press conference. “I am energetic, my teammates support me. My knee is itching right now, I’m talking about that. I’m ready, I like to be there with my teammates. They are my best friends, that makes things easier. “
Chris Paul added 22 points and 11 assists, rebounding from a poor performance in Game 4. Deandre Ayton added 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Suns never lagged behind, but they never completely retreated until the last few minutes against the boisterous Pelicans. Once again, Phoenix found a way to close, improving to 50-0 this season, when they led after three quarters, including 3-0 in this series.
Bridges finished the Suns’ result with two decisive goals in the last minute.
Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and CJ McCollum added 21 for New Orleans, who was injured by a slow start and 15 rollers.
“I just thought we made some timely mistakes, starting with the twists and turns,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green. “Fifteen turns for 23 points, which nourishes their team and this nourishes their transition opportunities. This is an area where we know we need to be better. “
The Suns took a 89-78 lead in the final quarter after Cameron Payne’s late 3-pointer. The Pelicans – just 36-46 in the regular season – pulled in seven points with less than two minutes left, but Cameron Johnson threw a one-handed shot in the ensuing quick break to retain control of the Suns.
Phoenix will try to win the series in Game 6 on Thursday in New Orleans. If the first five matches are an indication, it will not be easy.
It was an ironic performance for Bridges, who played 47 of the possible 48 minutes, but never looked tired. He made 12 of 17 shots from the field, blocked four shots, grabbed five rebounds and two stolen balls.
The bold 25-year-old – who was one of three finalists for the NBA Defender of the Year award – has never missed a game in his four-year NBA career, playing 309 games in the regular season and 27 more in the offseason.
“He doesn’t miss games, he keeps the best players every night and then he has 31,” said Paul.
Phoenix played its third consecutive game without the guard of the stars Devin Booker, who was still out with a stretched right hamstring, which happened in match 2.
Phoenix led by 17 in the second quarter before settling for a 59-46 lead. Paul had 16 points before the break, while Ayton added 13. Ingram had 13 for the Pelicans.
“We have to change the way we start the match and come out with energy,” said Pelicans center Jonas Valanchunas. “If we hadn’t had this fight in the first half, the match would have been different.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Paul was annoyed after the technical foul match he received in the fourth quarter. This happened at a crucial moment: the Suns led only 100-92 with 4:39 to the end.
The point defender got the technical one after being booed for an eight-second foul. Paul claims that all he said was “Come on” to the secretary’s desk because he was hoping for a review.
“It’s out of control, it’s funny,” Paul said. “Whatever, that’s it. We’re trying not to include fourth-quarter technicians on our team. That’s a big deal.”
ON-SPARE POCKETS
Speaking of dissatisfaction with officials, Suns coach Monty Williams was fined $ 15,000 for publicly criticizing the refereeing in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA said before the game. The Pelicans had a 42-15 lead in shots during Game 4, which the Suns lost.
TYPE-INS
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado was again firm in defense, imposing the charge in the eight seconds in the fourth quarter against Paul, which led to a turnaround and a technical foul on Paul. … New Orleans shoots only 5 of 25 (20%) out of a range of 3 points.
Suns: Booker is training at the team’s training base, but it is not yet clear when he will be able to return. … Payne gave the Suns a seven-point boost in the first quarter. He averaged just 4.8 points in the first four games of the series. … Phoenix was just 1 of 9 out of a 3-point range before closing the first half, scoring 4 out of 6.
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