2 min read • April 24, 2022
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The Suns (70.9 SIC Team Health Score) play their second game without star guard Devin Booker. Phoenix barely survived their last contest behind the vintage theatrics of Chris Paul (FD $10,200.)
Paul put up 28 points with 14 assists on 10-18 shooting, scoring 19 of those 28 in the fourth quarter.
He held up an offense that has been less productive without Booker this season, averaging 109 points per game in the 14 contests he missed, out-scoring their opponents by only one point per game.
Cameron Johnson ($5,100) started for Booker but scored only eight points on seven shots. Landry Shamet ($3,800) saw extra run as well, scoring five in 29 minutes off the bench.
The biggest benefactor of the extra shot attempts – as was the case in the regular season – was DeAndre Ayton ($7,900), who scored 28 points on 20 FGA while grabbing 17 rebounds. In nine games without Booker during the regular season, Ayton averaged 19.33 points and scored 20-or-more in four contests.
The Pelicans (SIC Team Health Score 87.4) nearly took a 2-1 series lead in Game 3 but will take another shot at the Suns on Sunday.
Despite being without Zion Williamson all season, New Orleans has improved dramatically and made it a series against the No. 1 seed. Brandon Ingram ($9,100) and CJ McCollum ($8,600) have led the charge, with Ingram especially showing out with a 37/11/9 line in the upset Game 2 win.
McCollum has breathed life into the offense after he was acquired from the Trail Blazers and become a fearsome combo with Ingram.
Larry Nance Jr. ($5,200) has slowly built back up his conditioning after missing multiple months recovering from knee surgery, averaging 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in the playoffs on 8.4 shots per game.
Jose Alvarado ($3,700) and Herbert Jones ($4,500) have likewise emerged as unlikely playoff contributors and will be called on to limit Chris Paul.
Injury-Based Plays
Chris Paul o38.5 Points+Rebounds+Assists - This is his series now with Booker on the mend. He had 28 points, 14 assists and 4 rebounds in 40 minutes in Game 3.
Jaxson Hayes o3.5 rebounds - Hayes has helped fill the void left by Zion and has been an effective big man in the series. He had 6 rebounds in 10 minutes last game before getting ejected.
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