“The Point God” Chris Paul Lead Suns with impressive showing!
Chris Paul lead the Suns to a dominant victory on Tuesday night, knocking off the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The 118-105 win marked the Suns first win in the NBA Finals since 1993. In his first ever NBA Finals appearance, the “Point God” put forth a Finals debut for the ages.
After scoring 0 points in the first quarter, Paul went on to score 32 points in the final three quarters. In addition, Paul tallied four rebounds, and nine assists in the game. Paul was the first player with 30 points and eight assists in an NBA Finals debut since Michael Jordan did it for the Chicago Bulls in 1991, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Paul was deadly efficient in game 1, as he shot 12-of-19 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range.
With Milwaukee struggling to score consistently, the rest of the Suns team smelled blood in the water and took advantage. While Chris Paul lead the Suns in scoring, six of his fellow teammates also scored in double figures. Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton also had outstanding performances in the win. Booker had 27 points, six assists, and three steals in the game. Ayton finished with a double-double of 22 points and 19 rebounds.
The Suns’ victory was aided by a strong performance at the foul line. The only missed free throw for Phoenix occurred in the fourth quarter. The Suns went 25-for-26 from the charity stripe, whilst the Bucks went a measly 9-for-16.
Deandre Ayton is the 4th player in NBA Finals history with 20 points, 15 rebounds on 80% shooting.
The others are Wilt Chamberlain (1972), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971) & Bill Russell (1965).
Ayton & Abdul-Jabbar did it in their Finals debuts. pic.twitter.com/d9Y5KNZ5ji
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 7, 2021
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns!
After hyperextending his knee in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Bucks and started Game 1. In an outstanding performance only a week after his injury, Antetokounmpo tallied 20 points and 17 rebounds. “We planned on him to play,’’ Phoenix head coach Monty Williams said,” we figured a guy who works that hard would find a way back on the floor for the Finals. This time of year you sacrifice everything.’’
From the first possession, it was evident that the Bucks’ designation of Antetokounmpo as questionable was a load of nonsense. He appeared as limber and athletic as ever, with no symptoms of the hyperextended knee he had experienced a week before. Despite Giannis’ performance and Khris Middleton leading the Bucks with 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists, it wasn’t enough. Phoenix maintained a double digit lead over the Bucks through much of the second half, and whenever Milwaukee drew close the Suns would answer with another run.
Milwaukee will look to knot the series at 1-1 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.
Written by John Galietta
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Twitter: jgalietta17