The “Point God” truly lived up to his nickname Thursday night in his perfection.
In the Phoenix Suns first closeout game of the NBA Playoffs, Chris Paul shot a perfect 14-14 from the field, scoring 33 points as the Suns finished off the New Orleans Pelicans in round one 115-109.
It hasn’t been easy for the betting favorites to win the 2022 NBA Finals. Forced to deal with an injury to star shooting guard Devin Booker, the upstart Pelicans gave Phoenix all they could handle, hounding Paul all series long.
But with a chance to move on to the second round, and get a few extra days of rest, Paul put his stamp on the series. CP3 became the first player in NBA playoff history to make 13 or more shots without a miss, and had the most points in a game without a miss from the free throw line or the field.
Chris Paul is the first player in NBA HISTORY to make 13+ shots in a Playoff game without a miss.@CP3: 14-14 shooting, 33 points pic.twitter.com/hXrWuvN68X
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2022
Chris Paul had the most points in any game in NBA history, regular or postseason, for a player who didn't miss an FG or FT.
1. Paul (33)
2. Gary Payton (32)
3 (tie). Charles Barkley (31)
3 (tie). Thomas Bryant (31)The previous playoff record was 26 from Serge Ibaka.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) April 29, 2022
“I had no clue,” Paul said. “I think maybe at halftime I said I might have to shoot a little more. But throughout the game, I was literally managing the game. I wasn’t taking heat checks. I don’t shoot enough to have heat checks.”
It was fitting that Paul was perfect in New Orleans, the place where it all began for one of the greatest point guards of all time.
“I’m emotional every game here [in New Orleans],” Paul told NBA on TNT. “Willie [Green] being my brother, somebody I talk to about everything, us not talking this whole series, seeing his son sitting on the baseline.”
“It’s a good win for us, there’s a reason why he’s [Willie Green] the coach here,” Paul continued. “There ain’t been this much energy here in a long time and I’m just glad we got the win. I always say this city raised me, man. It’s tough, this is emotional for me.”
Booker made his return to the court after injuring his hamstring in game two, scoring 13 points in 32 minutes. He added five rebounds and three assists on 5-12 shooting.
“It was really nice to have him back,” Paul said. “All that pressure they’ve been doing against us the whole series, especially the last three games, was tough. (Booker) was on that left wing, and I don’t know if they forgot or didn’t realize who he was, but I saw how they were shifted.”
Phoenix moves on to play Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the second round after Dallas finished off the Utah Jazz in game six Thursday night.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].