Playoff rewind: Phoenix Suns-New Orleans Pelicans Game 3 highlights

Game 3 recap

The Suns edged the Pelicans in Game 3, 114-111, taking a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference first-round playoffs in New Orleans on Friday.

Two-third of the Suns' Big Three — Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul — handled the bulk of Phoenix's scoring production in Devin Booker's absence. Ayton and Paul both scored a team-high 28 points.

Two of the Suns' other starters, Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder, also scored in double figures (17 and 10, respectively). In addition, all four players had double digits in the plus-minus category (Ayton was plus-18; Bridges, Crowder, and Paul each were plus-10).

Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram picked up where he left off in Game 2, scoring a game-high 34 points (11-of-19, 3-of-6 from the 3-point line) with seven rebounds, two assists and one block. New Orleans' other top scoring threat, CJ McCollum, had 30 points, seven assists, two steals and one block in their loss.

Turning point

This game was a see-saw affair consisting of several runs by both teams: 7-2 run by Pelicans to end the first quarter, 16-5 run by Suns entering halftime, 17-7 run by Pelicans through five minutes in the third to cut into Phoenix's 59-48 halftime lead, making it 66-65 at the seven-minute mark.

But Paul took over the fourth once again like he did in his masterful Game 1 performance. He scored 19 of his 28 points in the fourth, finished with a game-high 14 assists and contributed four rebounds and a steal.

After the game was tied at 90 at 6:49 left to play, Paul led Phoenix's 16-7 scoring run through the 49-second mark. He hit four straight shots from the 6-minute mark to 4:16 to put the Suns up 98-93, they never trailed down the stretch.

Star of the game

Ayton dominated in the paint from the start. He went 13-of-20 from the field, had game-highs of 17 rebounds and three steals, added one block and committed just one turnover. He reached his playoff career-high 26 points two minutes into the third quarter, and his 21 first-half points were the most in a half in any playoff game he's been in. Ayton also helped Phoenix win the war in the paint, scoring 64 points in the restricted area, and JaVale McGee helped out with 15 points (7-of-8) off the bench.

Highlight reel

Shamet (five points, three rebounds, three assists in 30 minutes) came off the bench to rise and shine above the rim. He provided an aggressive spark as the Suns trailed the Pelicans early in the second quarter.

His first bucket in the second quarter was a left side baseline drive for a two-fisted jam after Paul skipped a pass from the right wing around the 10-minute mark. That was similar to the baseline drive from the right side and two-fisted jam within seconds after he replaced the injured Booker late in Game 2's third quarter.

Near the second quarter's midpoint, Shamet continued his air attack on Hayes, known for his posterizing dunks. But the Suns' 6-4 backup shooting guard Shamet had this type of moment on the 6-11 Hayes. Paul got a steal and started a fast break and Shamet was the right-side trailer. Shamet caught the ball and hammered it in off two steps over Hayes for the vicious and-one play.

Did you notice?

—The Suns got a first-half lift after an altercation involving the Pelican's Jaxson Hayes and Phoenix's Landry Shamet. About one minute after Shamet dunked on Hayes, Crowder was shoved by Hayes to the floor during a Pelicans possession and was ruled for his "unnecessary and excessive" contact. Hayes' offensive foul was elevated to a Flagrant 2 after a play review, and he was ejected from the game. Crowder was called for a technical foul for his angry reaction in the scrum with Hayes.

When all this happened the game was tied 43-43. The Suns ended half on a 16-5 run to take their 59-48 lead at the break.

—The Suns have had been burned in the third degree. Through Games 1-3, Phoenix has been outscored 102-70 in the third period, and the Pelicans won the quarter 31-22 in Game 3.

—The Suns were outrebounded again in Game 3, 45-35. The Pelicans continue to beat Phoenix by a landslide — a combined 143-103 edge on the glass.

They said it

"I wish I could tell you there was some orchestrating going on, but that's just Chris." — Suns coach Monty Williams on Paul's fourth quarter takeover.

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns-New Orleans Pelicans first-round playoff Game 3 rewind