Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out Game 1 win against Nuggets
There are many things Chris Paul is good at, but one of his most crucial skills is sensing a moment. It's never about how he starts; it's how he finishes.

And in Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns' Western Conference semifinal series against the visiting Denver Nuggets, Paul began slowly, hitting just two of his eight shots through three quarters. But as the Suns grabbed hold of the contest, so did Paul, going 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter as Phoenix cruised to a 122-105 win.

"It's in his hands, man," Suns center Deandre Ayton said. "He's made us comfortable ... just knowing that he's got it."

Paul's command of the game was on full display, with him methodically asserting himself early in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 consecutive points for the Suns as they widened their lead. He finished with 21 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds in 36 minutes, and while his grip on the fourth quarter separated Phoenix, the team showcased its impressive balance and depth throughout.

All five starters finished in double figures, scoring at least 14 points. The Suns are the first team since the 2013 Golden State Warriors (Game 2 in Round 1) with four 20-point scorers on 55% shooting from the floor in a playoff game.

"That's what I've said all season long: We have a team," Paul said. "If you try to take one of us out or whatnot, we make the right play. Who you gonna leave open? Mikal [Bridges] is cash. Jae [Crowder] is cash. Cam [Johnson]. I could keep going on and on, and that's the benefits of having a team."

For Paul, better health was part of his fourth-quarter output, as he is now two weeks past his initial shoulder injury sustained in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. It's something he is still dealing with, but as Paul already gets better the longer the game goes on, his shoulder also does.

"It definitely loosens up," Paul said. "One thing about it is you don't get no practice time. The only way you get a chance to see how it is is during the game. It was good. It was fun to get out there and be involved. That last series was, that was tough. I'm glad to be back helping the team."

Paul scored or assisted on 20 of the Suns' final 34 points. It's his ninth career playoff game with 20 points, 10 assists and one or fewer turnovers, passing LeBron James for the most in the league with that line since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.

"He just made plays," Suns guard Devin Booker said of Paul. "Not only his scoring ability but getting everybody else involved. That's been the story of the season for us, following him in that regard."

The Suns don't necessarily have a template to lean on Paul late in games the way the Oklahoma City Thunder did when Paul led the league in clutch-time scoring a season ago. The Suns have the scoring of Booker and the well-rounded depth sprinkled throughout. But Paul is assertive when he needs to be, playing a cerebral game and picking his moments to take over.

"His ability to read the game, clock management, shot-making. He's done it for a long time," Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. "Right now, he's probably critiquing himself and picking at some things he could do a lot better. He makes a lot of our stuff look better because he's been in these situations before and understands the moment."

At 36 years old, Paul is the oldest player in NBA history with 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a playoff game; only four other players -- James (six times), Elgin Baylor, John Stockton and Dennis Johnson -- have put up that stat line at age 35 or older.

"Man, it's a different game for him these days from when I was watching him play," Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said of Paul. "He was a lot more explosive back in the day, getting to the cup. He's always been really smart, and he just keeps getting smarter. He's a maestro out there orchestrating them. He really has uplifted that whole Phoenix team.

"Just how he talks, how he communicates with them out on the floor; you can tell that he just gives the entire team confidence."

Chris Paul takes over in fourth quarter to lead Phoenix Suns past Denver Nuggets
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Chris Paul hit a perfect 6/6 from the floor in the fourth quarter as the Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 122 - 105 to take Game 1 in front of a raucous Phoenix crowd.

Paul and his rejuvenated right shoulder scored 21 points (14 points in the fourth) and dished 11 assists as the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets in the first game of their Western Conference semi-finals series.

All eyes were on Paul in the opening minutes, especially after his ailing right shoulder was inadvertently bumped by Denver point guard Facundo Campazzo.

The 11-time All-Star looked uncomfortable for a moment but recovered quickly. He went scoreless in the opening period but made a 3-pointer in the second quarter and then a turnaround jumper.

The Suns trailed for most of the first half and by 10 points early in the third quarter but rallied to take the lead by late in the third.

Devin Booker made a 27-foot, step back 3-pointer and Bridges added a driving layup for a 79-72 advantage. They pushed the lead to 88-79 going into the fourth.

However, Paul really started to look like his old self in the fourth quarter, when he knocked down back-to-back mid-range jumpers to put the Suns up 94-79 with 10:25 left.

Partly because of the shoulder injury, Paul averaged just 9.2 points per game against the Lakers in the first round. The flurry came much to the delight of the sell-out crowd of 16,319, who anxiously watched the point guard's every move.

Paul's buckets were the final exclamation points on a 34-9 run that helped Phoenix take control and cruise to the finish line. Veteran power forward Paul Millsap scored in the interior with 10 minutes left to halt the Phoenix onslaught.

However, the Suns still managed to keep the heat on as Paul converted a three-point play and a three-pointer and Cameron Payne fed an alley-oop to Torrey Craig for a ferocious dunk that increased the Phoenix lead to 102-84 with 8:36 left.

Crowder later knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 114-97 with 3:34 left, and Booker added a jumper 26 seconds later to end any suspense. The Suns' lead topped out at 20 points.

The young big man Deandre Ayton had another impressive game, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds while limiting Nikola Jokic's effectiveness on the defensive end. Meanwhile Devin Booker added 21 points, four rebounds and eight assists.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 22 points but went cold while the Suns made their second half run. Aaron Gordon added 18 points while Michael Porter Jr. had 15.

The big man matchup between Jokic and Ayton initially delivered in the first quarter as the two teams fought to a 28-all tie. Ayton threw down a thunderous dunk over Michael Porter Jr. while Jokic used his strength and positioning to make five of six shots.

Denver led 58-57 at halftime. Jokic had 15 points and six rebounds before the break while Booker and Ayton countered with 11 points each for the Suns.

It was surprising that the game didn't come down to the final minutes. The three regular-season meetings were all extremely close: One was decided by three points in regulation, another was settled in overtime and the other went to double overtime.

Game 2 of the series is on Wednesday night, again in Phoenix.

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out Game 1 win against Denver Nuggets
Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out Game 1 win against Nuggets
There are many things Chris Paul is good at, but one of his most crucial skills is sensing a moment. It's never about how he starts; it's how he finishes. And in Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns' Western Conference semifinal series against the visiting Denver Nuggets, Paul began slowly, hitting just two of his eight shots through three quarters. But as the Suns grabbed hold of the contest, so did Paul, going 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter as Phoenix cruised to a 122-105 win.

Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out Game 1 win against Nuggets
play
Suns surge late to beat Nuggets in Game 1 (2:06)
The Suns go on 16-0 and 11-0 runs late in the game to pull away from the Nuggets and take Game 1. (2:06)

2:11 AM ET
There are many things Chris Paul is good at, but one of his most crucial skills is sensing a moment. It's never about how he starts; it's how he finishes.

“It's in his hands, man,” Suns center Deandre Ayton said. “He's made us comfortable … just knowing that he's got it.”

“That's what I've said all season long: We have a team,” Paul said. “If you try to take one of us out or whatnot, we make the right play. Who you gonna leave open? Mikal [Bridges] is cash. Jae [Crowder] is cash. Cam [Johnson]. I could keep going on and on, and that's the benefits of having a team.”

“It definitely loosens up,” Paul said. “One thing about it is you don't get no practice time. The only way you get a chance to see how it is is during the game. It was good. It was fun to get out there and be involved. That last series was, that was tough. I'm glad to be back helping the team.”

“He just made plays,” Suns guard
Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, aided by improving shoulder, takes over in 4th quarter to close out Game 1 win against Nuggets
There are many things Chris Paul is good at, but one of his most crucial skills is sensing a moment. It's never about how he starts; it's how he finishes.