Chris Paul scored 33 points on 14-of-14 shooting, and the No. 1 seeded Phoenix Suns escaped their first-round series against the upstart Pelicans with a 115-109 victory in Game 6 on Thursday in New Orleans.
It set an NBA record for most points scored without a miss and another one for most makes without missing.
“Hell, we needed it,” Paul said after the game.
The Suns will face the winner of the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz series, which Dallas leads 3-3 with Game 6 tipping after Phoenix’s finish.
We’ve just witnessed the all-time Chris Paul Point God game. pic.twitter.com/srneRbLTOQ
— Point Wob (@WorldWideWob) April 29, 2022
Paul scored 10 first-half points but went wild in the third quarter. He dropped 13 in the period as the Suns reversed a negative trend for them through the first five games.
“Knew I had to try to force the issue,” Paul said.
Phoenix had been outscored 169-123 in third quarters through Game 5 but turned a 58-48 deficit into a three-point differential by winning the period, 34-27.
Devin Booker, who made a return after three games sidelined due to a hamstring injury, contributed 13 points, five rebounds and three assists on 5-of-12 shooting.
He hit a three-pointer to push Phoenix ahead for good, 106-104, with 1:42 left in the game before Mikal Bridges gave the Suns more buffer with a steal and transition dunk on New Orleans’ ensuing trip up the court.
The Pelicans gave Phoenix a fight all the way to the end despite point guard C.J. McCollum finding himself with five fouls in the third quarter. McCollum scored 16 points in 34 minutes.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 21 points, adding 11 assists and five rebounds.
The Suns shot 60% for the game, went 8-of-20 from three (40%) and posted a 17-of-18 mark at the foul stripe. Paul contributed four free throws.