LOS ANGELES – Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams originally planned to use Chris Paul for Game 4 against the Lakers. A prolonged shoulder injury had reduced the point guard to a fraction of itself, and Williams didn’t think Paul could help in a crucial game. Paul changed his coach’s mind in an emotional conversation before Sunday’s game. “He said, ‘Coach, let me start, and if you think I don’t look like I normally do, then take me out and we have to go in a different direction,'” said Williams. “This is one of those situations where I had to trust the player.” By the time Paul finished orchestrating their great second half, the Suns only went one way: back to Phoenix with a 2-2 streak and greatly increased confidence in these playoff newbies’ ability to knock out the defending champions. Paul had 18 points and nine assists, Devin Booker and Jae Crowder added 17 points each, and the Suns equalized the first round series with a 100-92 win. Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the second seeded Suns, who took advantage of Anthony Davis’ absence in the second half with a groin injury to regain their home advantage in the series after two straight defeats. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Phoenix. Paul was largely a non-factor in Game 3 of his first postseason with his new team as he was obviously struggling to get off any shots with his ailing right arm. After two days of not touching basketball, Paul looked better in training before Sunday’s game – and then looked a lot sharper in game, controlling 12 points and all of his assists in the second half of the Suns first run in the playoff – Victory for over 11 years. Paul was grateful that Williams was receptive to his ardent desire to play. He also reassured his teammates that he would only hold out if he could help, telling Crowder and others, “I don’t know how long it will take, but if you all feel like I look like garbage out here Just tell me and I’ll go out. “” I haven’t touched a basketball or anything since the last game, “Paul added.” We haven’t had a lot of people who have missed a lot of games this season so we are used to play a certain way. I was just glad to be out there and help. “The Lakers had exactly this problem: without Davis, the champions can’t play the way they want – and not even LeBron James could save them this time. Davis scored in the Six points on the 9-2 shoot first half but didn’t return after half. Superstar Big Man scored 34 points on each of the Lakers’ two series wins, but he hyperextended his leg in Game 3 and then appeared to be his accumulated Worsening injury problems in the second quarter of Game 4 fell awkwardly and grabbed his leg after a layup attempt defended by Crowder. James had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who fell too far behind in the third quarter while Davis was in the locker room Before its last minute surge, Los Angeles struggled in the absence of starters Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who injured his knee in Game 3 th. HAWKS 113, KNICKS 96 ATLANTA – Trae Young scored 27 points, John Collins added a blow to the lip despite an A and Atlanta frustrated Julius Randle and the New York Knicks again and pulled back to take a 3-1 lead in the second half. The Hawks will look to celebrate their first win in the playoff series since 2016 when they travel to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Wednesday night. Randle was again chanted by “Overrated! Overrated! Overrated!” every time he put one up. The roar was deafening after a sequence in the third when Randle missed a drive and had a put-back edge before the Knicks throw the ball out of the way. Randle’s frustration boiled over less than a minute later when he slammed Collins into the square on another drive. Nothing was mentioned initially, but Randle was deemed an offensive foul following a video review sparked by a challenge from Hawk’s coach Nate McMillan. Randle had his highest-scoring game in the series with 23 points in 7-of-19 shooting. Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol, left, celebrates after scoring as Phoenix Suns Cameron Payne, center, and striker Cameron Johnson during the first half in game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series on Sunday 30th 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Lakers center Andre Drummond, Top, and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul leave after a rebound in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series on Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill) Cameron Payne, Phoenix Suns left, shoots while Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso during the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series on Sunday, May 30, 2021, defend Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
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