Slow start, Paul’s brilliance too much for Pelicans in series opener at Suns

Facing the best team in the NBA on the road, you knew the New Orleans Pelicans needed their absolute best to upset the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference first round playoff series opener Sunday night.

That did not happen.

The Suns came out very physical and dominated. By game’s end, top-seeded Phoenix did have to work a lot harder than they likely expected in a 110-99 win over the Pelicans.

Devin Booker hit a three-pointer to start the game. The first half ended with a driving layup by Chris Paul.

That about summed up the action in the first two and a half quarters of the game, dominated by the Suns.

New Orleans started the game 3-of-16 from the field and trailed 17-6.

Issues with spacing early with their big lineup plagued the Pelicans. Too much isolation and little ball movement offensively with Jonas Valanciunas and Jaxson Hayes on the floor was the result.

Herb Jones picked up his second foul with 3:28 to play in the opening quarter.

CJ McCollum missed his first six shots.

New Orleans finished the first quarter a woeful 6 of 26 from the field and trailed 28-16.

Phoenix had 10 assists on 11 made baskets in the opening quarter and shot 65 percent from the field (11 of 18).

The second quarter was more of the same as the Suns outscored the Pelicans 25-18 to take a commanding 53-34 halftime lead.

The Suns shot 52 percent in the half and had 16 assists on 21 made shots.

New Orleans was just 11 of 49 from the field for 22 percent. New Orleans had just five assists in the half.

The big three of Brandon Ingram, McCollum and Valanciunas were a combined 9 of 34 from the field. The 34 points in the half tied a season low for New Orleans. Ingram finished the first half with 12 points while Valanciunas had eight points and 15 rebounds. The bench contributed just three points in the half on a 3-pointer by Jose Alvarado.

Jaxson Hayes opened the second half with a three-point play but New Orleans trailed by as many as 23 points in the third quarter.

The Pelicans turned up the intensity on both ends of the floor and went on an 18-5 run to pull within 79-71 going to the final quarter as Larry Nance, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy provided a huge lift off the bench with energy and production as New Orleans put up 37 points in the quarter as the Pelicans played faster and played more physical basketball.

The Pelicans pulled within six at 87-81 with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter but Chris Paul hit three consecutive 3-pointers and scored 19 points while assisting on a dunk by JaVale McGee. Paul also had a steal.

It was a brilliant performance by Paul, who finished with 30 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Paul was 12 of 16 from the field.

No question that for a half the Pelicans looked the part of a team that had been through a pair of tough, physically draining play-in games. Yes, they were likely tired while the Suns were fresh and fast, having enjoyed a week off.

Then, the Pelicans showed tremendous resolve and character to battle back against the best team in the NBA, to make it interesting, to put a scare in the Suns, though New Orleans never truly threatened to win it.

Phoenix shot 54 percent from the field to 38 percent for the Pelicans.

New Orleans stayed in it by blasting the Suns 55-35 on the boards, including 25 offensive rebounds.

McCollum had 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Ingram had 18 points.

Valanciunas had 18 points and an amazing 25 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards.

Nance was terrific off the bench for a second straight game, scoring 14 points with six rebounds and three assists.

He was effective when Valanciunas struggled but perhaps both can play at the same time, based on matchups, as Hayes is being rendered ineffective in the postseason, to this point. Hayes took just two shots, scored four points and had just one rebound.

The real story of the loss was that McCollum, Ingram and Valanciunas combined to make just 22 of 63 field goal attempts (35%). If that improves and it must, the Pelicans will have a shot.

Overmatched for two and a half quarters, New Orleans proved it could play with the Suns for the final quarter and a half.

That confidence, that belief, must carry over.

Game two is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

The Suns are 48-0 when leading after three quarters.

I cannot wait to see how the Pelicans respond but the Pelicans must start better.