Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul looked to have hurt his foot and knee when Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez collided with his lower body on a 3-point attempt during Game 1. He was seen getting his wrist taped on the sideline at a different time after apparently aggravated an injury he suffered in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers.
No worries at all. The former Oklahoma City Thunder guard had another spectacular game, pouring 32 points on 12-for-19 shooting, hitting four 3-pointers and dishing nine assists in the Suns’ 118-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to open Paul’s first-ever Finals.
Paul was scoreless in the first quarter but posted 11 points in the second quarter and 16 in the third, at one point scoring eight points in a row in the third quarter. His 32-point game follows his 41-point performance in the Game 6 clincher against the Clippers.
Deandre Ayton nearly posted a 20/20 game in his first-ever Finals appearance, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds. He was prevented from the last-second rebound when Paul grabbed a board without realizing Ayton was in the vicinity and one rebound shy. By shooting 8-for-10 from the field, the No. 1 pick in 2018 joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — then known as Lew Alcindor — as the only players to debut in the Finals with 20 points, 15 rebounds and shoot 70% from the field.
Devin Booker had 27 points for the Suns on 8-for-21 shooting.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looked surprisingly springy after entering the day as doubtful. He finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists while going 7-for-12 from the free throw line.
Jrue Holiday had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but he was just 4-for-14 from the field and missed all four 3s he attempted.
The Suns cruised to a victory, leading at halftime and not looking back in the second half.
Game 2 will take place on Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
