By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The long wait is finally over as Chris Paul’s emphatic debut performance led the Phoenix Suns to a Game 1 NBA Finals victory, 118-105, against the Eastern conference kings Milwaukee Bucks.
The “Point God” answered the call right away and exploded for 32 points and nine assists and is the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to record at least 30 points and eight assists in their Finals debut.
Despite a rough first quarter for Paul who didn’t convert a single attempt from the field, the elite point guard immediately flipped the switch in the second quarter and quickly contributed 11 points.
Paul’s offensive output would continue in the second half as he single-handedly stomped the Bucks after dropping 16 points in an insane shooting clinic in the third frame.
The Bucks had their hopes high with the return of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from a nasty hyperextended knee he suffered in the Eastern conference finals but the Bucks still weren’t able to slow down Paul and the Suns who outscored them in three straight quarters.
Devin Booker was still in lethal form and dropped 27 huge points against the stinging defense of Jrue Holiday and PJ Tucker who just continued to go to his spot and sink his mid-range jump shots.
Meanwhile, big man Deandre Ayton dominated the paint area after tallying 22 points and 19 rebounds on an efficient 8/10 shooting from the field.
Milwaukee showed some fight after trimming Phoenix’s 18-point lead to just seven with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter but Booker and Cameron Johnson heated up quickly again to answer with their own scoring run.
Khris Middleton led the way for the Bucks with his 29-point performance but wasn’t enough to steal Game 1 away from the Suns.
Coach Mike Budenholzer will look to go back to the drawing board in order to even things up.
