NBA: Suns blaze past the Pelicans to make history

Phoenix, Arizona - The Phoenix Suns welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans into town, holding them off on Tuesday night for their second-straight win of the season as an NBA legend made a little bit of history.

Mikal Bridges led the Suns with 22 points on Tuesday night.
Mikal Bridges led the Suns with 22 points on Tuesday night.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

The Suns defeated the Pelicans 112-100 in a game where Chris Paul, one of the best point guards in league history, wrote another page into the record books.

In a similar situation as their Finals counterparts from last year, the Bucks, Phoenix came into Tuesday night’s matchup against New Orleans a game under .500 so far this season.

They certainly played like a team struggling with their early-season form, trailing the one-win Pelicans by double-digits after the first quarter.

New York Liberty receives hero's welcome with ticker-tape parade for WNBA title!
NBA New York Liberty receives hero's welcome with ticker-tape parade for WNBA title!

After two, the Suns were still down by 11, trailing 59-48 at halftime.

It was the second half where the story took a turn, as Phoenix made all the adjustments necessary to take the game back from New Orleans.

A dominant fourth quarter really made the difference where the Suns doubled up the Pelicans 36-18, to complete the comeback.

The player spotlight

Chris Paul had 18 assists on Tuesday night to move into third on the NBA's career assists list.
Chris Paul had 18 assists on Tuesday night to move into third on the NBA's career assists list.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

The man of the hour was Suns point guard Chris Paul (36) who while not being even his team’s leading scorer, had a monster game elsewhere on the stat sheet.

He put on an absolute clinic in throwing around assist after assist to move into third-place on the league’s career assist list with 10,346.

By halftime, he led with eight dishes, but no points.

Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, and more inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
NBA Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, and more inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

He did eventually start racking up the baskets, as well as 10 more assists in the second half.

Paul finished the game shooting 6-for-8, 14 points, 18 assists, and seven rebounds.

The big picture

Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns looks to get his team back to their second-straight NBA Finals appearance this season.
Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns looks to get his team back to their second-straight NBA Finals appearance this season.  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Like the Bucks, the Suns are going through a "Finals hangover" of sorts but are currently sitting even at 3-3 this season.

But unlike the defending champs, they have the next several games against genuinely beatable opponents so it stands to reason that by this time next week, Phoenix will have their early-seasons woes way back in the rearview mirror.

On Thursday, the Suns will stay at home to play the Rockets, while the Pelicans travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Wednesday night.

Cover photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

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