The Phoenix Suns suffered a 125-114 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, who tied the West first round playoff series at 1-1 on Tuesday.
Top-seed Suns’ Booker displayed a prolific performance in the second game. He scored 31 points in the first half, but a hamstring injury at the beginning of the second half held him down at Phoenix’s Footprint Center.
The Pelicans were leading the game 77-74, with 4:45 to go in the third quarter, when Booker had to be subbed out.
New Orleans small forward Brandon Ingram flirted with a triple-double as he scored 37 points, took 11 rebounds and made 9 assists.
CJ McCollum – a Pelicans guard – added 23 points to the away win, also contributing with nine assists and grabbing eight rebounds.
In addition to Booker, Suns’ Mikal Bridges scored 19 points, and the team’s veteran point guard Chris Paul tallied 17 points and 14 assists.
Game 3 will be at New Orleans’ home court Smoothie King Center on Friday.
Irving fined $50,000 for offensive gestures against Celtics fans
NBA said it fined Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving $50,000 for “obscene gestures” on a basketball court and “profane language toward the spectator stands” in the game one against the Boston Celtics.
Irving, 30, has been a Nets member since 2019. Before his move to the Nets, Irving played for the Celtics (2017-2019).
The Nets lost against the Celtics 115-114 on April 17 at Boston’s TD Garden.
The Celtics are leading the series 1-0, and the game two will be played in Boston on Wednesday.
Results:
Miami Heat – Atlanta Hawks: 115-105 (Heat are leading series 2-0)
Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves: 124-96 (Series tied 1-1)
Phoenix Suns – New Orleans Pelicans: 114-125 (Series tied 1-1)
Source: Anadolu Agency
