Both James Harden and Kawhi Leonard were left shocked after hearing the Los Angeles Clippers released Chris Paul.

In a bombshell announcement, Paul posted on his Instagram account in the early hours of Wednesday that he was being sent home, the same day the team prepared to play the Atlanta Hawks.

After the game, reporters asked Harden and Leonard about their reactions to the decision.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” Harden said. “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands.”

Leonard also couldn’t believe the news.

“It was shocking to me,” he said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

The victory on Wednesday ended a five-game losing run for the Clippers. However, the team sits 13th in the Western Conference with a 6-16 record.

The poor start to the season hasn’t gone to plan for Paul, who rejoined the team which he spent six seasons with between 2011 and 2017 in the summer. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Paul’s relationship with head coach Ty Lue began to worsen, with the two “not on speaking terms.” The sources also told ESPN that Paul’s presence began to become disruptive.

Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, confirmed to ESPN that the team parted ways with the veteran point guard, but remains grateful for his contributions to the franchise.

“Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career,” Frank said. “I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we’ve struggled. We’re grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise.”

Though released from the team, Paul cannot be officially eligible for a trade until Dec. 15 due to signing a one-year deal this past summer.

Free agent point guard Chris Paul has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for his expected final, 21st NBA season, CAA’s Steven Heumann, Ty Sullivan and Jessica Holtz told ESPN.

The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer had multiple suitors such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks, but the 12-time All-Star chose the contending Clippers and their shared history in Los Angeles. Paul told The Pat McAfee Show in June that he was determined to play his 21st season near his family, who live in Los Angeles.

He becomes the latest veteran addition to the Clippers, who also have added shooting guard Bradley Beal, power forward John Collins and center Brook Lopez this offseason. The Clippers were searching for a reserve point guard in the marketplace – having conversations with Malcolm Brogdon as well – but landed on Paul over the last seven days. They have also created salary cap flexibility, allowing them to be opportunistic in the next two summers and potentially pursue stars.

This marks a return to the Clippers for Paul, who played for the franchise for six seasons (2011-12 to 2016-17), during which he was a five-time All-Star. He was also selected to five All-NBA teams, the most such selections in Clippers franchise history. And he had 4,023 assists with the Clippers, the most in franchise history.

He spent the last season with the San Antonio Spurs and played all 82 games, becoming the first player to play 82 games in a season at the age of 20 or later.

Paul, who was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year that season, has 12,499 assists and 2,717 steals in his career – second all-time in both categories.

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama took yet another step forward Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 50 points to completely overwhelm the Washington Wizards in a 139-130 victory. He is the fourth youngest player in NBA history to hit the 50-point mark. It was also the fastest 50-point game in NBA history, requiring only 26 minutes on the floor.

The reigning Rookie of the Year has been inconsistent this season, but the Wizards had no answer for him in a highly encouraging performance. Talking to reporters after the game, Wembanyama downplayed the milestone. He wants this to be one of many.

“My first thought is eventually I want the rest of our performances, the rest of our games, to overshadow this one,” Wembanyama said. “I want to make it where in the future, [this is] just another one.”

Wembanyama was the focal point for San Antonio all night, as the team obviously planned to feature him prominently and force the lowly Wizards to come up with a plan to stop him. The closest Washington ever came to responding was by delivering points on their end. Jordan Poole exploded for 42 points and kept his team in the game, but the Wizards’ defense faltered at every turn. Spurs veteran point guard Chris Paul racked up 11 assists, feeding Wembanyama with devastating efficiency. 

Several teams this year have found a way to stop Wembanyama, most notably the Thunder, who held him to six points on five attempts in a game on Oct. 30. In the past week, however, Wembanyama has found his footing, especially from beyond the perimeter. In his last three games combined, he has shot with 57.7% accuracy from three-point range, a mark he did not reach in any single game before this stretch.

The Spurs are still building a team around Wembanyama, and though the likes of Paul, Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell have improved matters, San Antonio still isn’t considered a serious contender in the Western Conference. The team has come a long way already, however, and is far from disgraced, with a 6-6 record to begin the 2024-25 season.

Scott Foster was on call for game two of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday, but he is in the news for reasons unrelated to basketball.

Ex-NBA referee Bill Spooner, who stood on the sidelines for over 32 years, defended Foster on a podcast with The Athletic while disparaging Warriors PG Chris Paul.

“And when I tell them that Chris Paul, in my 32 years in the league, was one of the biggest assholes I ever dealt with, they say, ‘Not Rasheed Wallace … or da-da-da?’ Nope. Nothing like [Paul],” Spooner exclaimed to The Athletic and further reported on by CBS Sports.

Foster and Paul’s checkered past created tense moments during their respective careers. Their last meeting on the court ended with the “Point God” taking an early shower after two quick technical fouls from the ref led to Paul’s dismissal in the second quarter. After the game, Paul called the feud between the two “personal” and alleged an incident between the referee and his son some years ago.

Foster receives the most backlash of any zebra in the league. The NBA trusts him as he calls the most important games on the league calendar, but that gives him a more prominent spotlight to be targeted. Across the internet, fans have put together YouTube videos with Foster’s missed calls to highlight their disdain. Some watchers refer to him as “The Extender” as conspiracy theorists believe Foster intentionally makes bad calls that benefit a team trailing in the series.

Paul completed his first season with the Warriors in 2023-2024, which did not meet the expectations of the future Hall-of-Famer. He came off the bench and averaged the fewest minutes in his 19-year career while only playing 58 games, also the fewest since he entered the league in 2005-2006. Golden State missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday that he was still content despite the team’s 23-25 record. The team has been speculated to be looking for trade partners ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

Kerr told reporters before the Warriors’ 127-104 win over the 76ers that the team could still be “something special.” Led by aging stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the team has struggled at times in the 2023-24 season.

“The guys who are here, they are an incredibly accomplished group,” Kerr said. “We’ve got some exciting young players, and we’ve got a good group. Every guy on our team has really overcome a lot, individually, this year. Taken out of the starting lineup, to injuries, young players have emerged through hard work and patience, and I enjoy coaching this team. It is a long haul, but I feel like this team could be something special.”

Kerr and the Warriors have four championships in the past decade, but the team’s recent struggles have provoked calls for a roster shakeup. Longtime defensive star Draymond Green was briefly suspended for repeated behavioral issues last year. Thompson, one of the league’s most prolific long-range shooters, has recently commented on losing steam late in his career. With just 17.1 points per game this year, the 34-year-old is on pace to have his worst offensive season since 2013.

“To go from [being] one of the best players — it’s hard for anybody, I’ll be honest with you,” Thompson said Monday.

Chris Paul, who was once expected to be a key addition for Golden State last offseason, has missed significant time with various injuries and has only scored 8.9 points per game. In general, the team consistently has one of the oldest starting fives in basketball.

Beyond Curry, who continues to produce at an elite level, the only Golden State players producing at a trade-worthy level at the moment are forwards Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga is just 21 years old, making it unlikely that Golden State would part with him. Wiggins, a 28-year-old starter, could be a valuable trade piece, but no deal has been arranged yet, per team reports.

NBA star Chris Paul will join Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors following another massive NBA trade deal this week. The Washington Wizards, who just traded for Paul on Sunday, will deal him to Golden State in exchange for Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.

Beyond the unfathomably distant draft picks, the Warriors’ exchange of Poole for Paul is an obvious sign that the team is looking to bolster its short-term outlook. Though Poole is a budding NBA talent coming off a career-best scoring season, the 2019 first-rounder also struggled mightily in the playoffs this season. It was a far cry from his star-making showings which helped Golden State win the championship a year prior.

While Golden State came to count on Poole for a time, the team was likely unwilling to meet the needs of the young player at a time when it is looking to capitalize on the final seasons of a historic dynasty. Stars like Curry and Klay Thompson have been the backbone of the Warriors for the better part of a decade at this point. Their success is unparalleled by any team in recent memory. With the clock ticking, however, more established players like Paul could prove useful as the team attempts to maintain its core for another championship run.

While the Warriors try to find ways to maintain greatness, the Wizards are simply in search of a way forward and have gone all in on future investments. On Sunday, the team sent Bradley Beal and point guard Jordan Goodwin to Phoenix for Paul, shooting guard Landry Shamet and a boatload of future draft picks. On Wednesday, the team traded Kristaps Porzingis for Tyus Jones, Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari and the 2023 35th overall pick in a three-way deal with the Celtics and Grizzlies.

Washington had no real use for Paul, a 38-year-old point guard looking for a win-now team, but the team has now flipped him for even more potential. Poole and Rollins, a 20-year-old shooting guard, have found a much more suitable spot to grow and develop, far outside the massive shadows of titans like Curry and Thompson.

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly preparing to waive Chris Paul, which would end his three-year tenure with the team and allow the team to pursue younger talent. Reports suggest that Paul wants to sign with a title contender for the 2023-24 season, and based on his ability at age 38, the 12-time All-Star could end up on a number of rosters.

The current front runner to sign Paul is rumored to be the Los Angeles Lakers, who may be in need of a point guard if they fail to resign D’Angelo Russell. Based on the team’s run to the Western Conference Final this season with LeBron James at the helm, Paul would likely embrace another opportunity in the Western Conference.

Even if the Lakers don’t come calling, however, another team is reportedly interested in signing Paul in what could be a highly anticipated reunion. The Clippers, Paul’s former team for six seasons from 2011 to 2017, are also in the market for a point guard with Russell Westbrook heading for free agency. The Clippers and Paul failed to win a championship in their first stint together but could capitalize on a fresh roster at this later point in his career.

Beyond the Lakers and Clippers, who are clear front runners to sign Paul to a new deal, many other teams could benefit from the veteran’s services. The Minnesota Timberwolves were fringe playoff contenders this year but suffered as a result of inconsistent play at point guard. Meanwhile, the 76ers will have to fill a massive void as James Harden prepares for free agency.

Teams like the Bucks or Bulls already have options at point guard but could go for a short-term upgrade at the position by signing Paul. On the very far outside of this conversation, there could even be a path forward in Phoenix, as the Suns haven’t technically parted ways with Paul yet and could reach a different deal with the longtime star. The risks in signing Paul are obvious to any team that pursues him, but the upside for win-now teams is clear as well.

The NBA announced Wednesday that Steph Curry will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. Curry will become the third player to receive the award for his work to promote voting participation in marginalized communities.

For winning the award, Curry will receive $100,000 to donate to the organization of his choice. He has reportedly selected the University of San Francisco Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice.

“Curry prioritizes uplifting communities by fostering equity and creating access to opportunity,” the league said in a statement. “As a co-chair of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘When We All Vote’ initiative, Curry uses his platform to drive voter registration, education and turnout, most recently during the 2022 election season. His role encouraged millions of new voters to participate in the political process and make their voices heard through civic engagement.”

The award, named after NBA legend and civil rights activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was created in 2021 to honor players making strides in the pursuit of social justice. Carmelo Anthony was the inaugural winner in 2021 for his decades-long efforts to ensure equal representation for black communities. Veteran player Reggie Bullock won in 2022 for his support of the LGBTQ+ community through philanthropy and work with a number of local organizations.

Over the years, Curry has delivered several emphatic statements promoting increased voter participation in national and local elections, including an impassioned address to the Senate in 2021 to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. The bill aimed to limit voter suppression, gerrymandering and other partisan election practices but stalled on the Senate floor.

“Curry is also committed to raising awareness around issues of community safety, utilizing the Warriors’ 2023 White House visit to engage directly with President Biden and participate in a White House press briefing with head coach Steve Kerr to publicly address the matter.”

Curry was one of five players nominated for the 2023 award, along with Jaren Jackson Jr., Tre Jones, Grant Williams and Chris Paul. While the Warriors star receives $100,000, the other four nominees will receive $25,000 which they can donate to programs of their choice as well.

LeBron James released a statement on social media criticizing the NBA after the league banned Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver for one year and fined him $10 million for abusive workplace conduct. James, along with other NBA players, believe that the punishment is not enough.

“I gotta be honest…Our league definitely got this wrong,” James said on Twitter.

As the face of the NBA, James’ dissenting opinion represents a schism between players and management regarding Sarver’s actions. Following a 10-month investigation, the NBA found that Sarver used racist and misogynist language in the workplace as owner of the Suns and Phoenix Mercury, the team’s WNBA counterpart. This included repeated use of the N-word as well as consistent bullying and harassment of female employees.

In 2014, former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling faced similar allegations and went on to receive a lifetime ban from the sport. But NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has rejected comparisons between Sterling and Sarver, defending the latter owner’s punishment in a press conference Wednesday.

“Let me reiterate: The conduct is indefensible,” Silver said. “But I feel we dealt with it in a fair manner, both taking into account the totality of the circumstances, not just those particular allegations but the 18 years in which Mr. Sarver has owned the Suns and the Mercury.”

Silver also said that while the league’s investigation revealed Sarver’s unacceptable behavior, “there were also many, many people who had very positive things to say about him through this process.”

Though the commissioner was satisfied with the punishment for Sarver, James was one of many players who said it wasn’t enough. Suns star Chris Paul also came forward to criticize the league’s verdict.

“I am of the view that the sanctions fell short in truly addressing what we can all agree was atrocious behavior,” Paul said. “My heart goes out to all of the people that were affected.”

After his punishment was revealed, Sarver said he disagreed with the league’s decision but apologized for his conduct in a statement released through the Suns and Mercury organizations. Following his one-year ban, he will be able to continue as owner of both teams.

The relationship between fans and players has been a focal point in many different sports recently—most notably the NBA, with Chris Paul’s family getting harassed in Dallas at Game 4 of the Suns-Mavericks series. That’s not even getting into Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving giving fans the double bird.

As the rowdy Dallas fan was escorted out of Game 4, Paul could be seen on video saying to him, “I’ll see you later.” It’ll be much later, as the fan has been banned until 2023.

Reports surfaced that the fan put his hands on Paul’s mother and his wife was also shoved. His children were also in attendance and didn’t feel safe.

“American Airlines Center and Dallas Mavericks security and executives have concluded the investigation in to the incident involving the Paul family,” a statement from the Mavericks said. “Two unruly fans attempted to give unwanted hugs and have conversations with members of the Paul family on the public concourse of American Airlines Center. AAC security responded immediately once notified by the family and the fans were swiftly ejected from the game. The fans involved in the incident will not be allowed to return to the arena until 2023.”

Paul, a former NBA Players Association president, would like to see changes made. But it’s unclear how the league can go about doing that.

Those rowdy fans are at it again.

As if watching a close relative play in an NBA playoff game wasn’t stressful enough, several of Chris Paul’s family members also had to deal with verbal and physical confrontation Sunday at Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns—a 111-101 Dallas win that tied the series at 2.

Paul addressed the situation on social media: “Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families….f**k that!!”

Paul’s mom, Robin, and his wife, Jada, and their two children were behind the Suns’ bench at American Airlines Center. Someone put their hands on Robin, while Jada was pushed.

“It was unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated,” the Mavericks said in a statement. “The Mavericks, along with American Airlines Center, swiftly removed the fan from today’s game.”

Suns guard Chris Paul received the inaugural Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA advocacy award for his significant contributions to the advancement of girls’ and women’s basketball, including the WNBA.

“I have seen first-hand Chris’ appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls, especially in Phoenix and North Carolina, and his ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “The league is proud to name Chris as the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, as he serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans.”

The league and Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, presented him with the award during the NBA All-Star Game Sunday evening.

The WNBA credits Paul for promoting the girls’ game through camps and his CP3 Basketball Academy.

The WNBA says the award was conceived to highlight Bryant’s “legacy as a coach and mentor and Gigi’s inspirational, relentless commitment to playing at the highest levels of the game.” The league also says it will make a donation to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, which was created by the Bryant family to honor the Lakers star and Gigi.

The 36-year-old Paul is a 12-time All-Star, averaging 14.9 points and 10.7 assists per game for the league-best 48-10 Suns this season.

The 2022 WNBA season kicks off on May 6.

Devin Booker —”homies” with a dinosaur— finished with 28 points, Chris Paul 20 and 11 assists, as the Phoenix Suns rallied to beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-101 Thursday.

Phoenix (35-9) swept its season-long, five-game road trip to win its ninth straight against the Mavericks thanks in large part to outscoring them 35-19 in the fourth frame, during which Paul tallied 10 of his points.

“Chris knows when to go,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “He showed that again in the fourth quarter.”

Luka Doncic scored 28 points, Jalen Brunson 19, and Kristaps Porzingis 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavs (26-20), who had won four straight games and 10 of 11.

“That’s a team that’s been running through the league here of late,” Suns coach Monty Williams. “To beat them on their home floor like that is huge.”

Phoenix found itself leading 101-99 with 2:56 remaining, when Bismack Biyombo — playing in just his seventh game since joining the Suns —followed a free throw with a dunk to make it a five-point affair. Paul’s three-pointer with 19 ticks left was the clincher, putting the Suns ahead 107-99.

Doncic, who now has at least 20 points in nine straight games, went to the bench in the fourth after hurting his neck on a hard fall.

“My neck’s not an excuse,” said Doncic, who had eight turnovers and said he may have tired in the fourth. “But man, they’re the best record in the league. We were right there.”

The Suns won despite shooting a season-worst 22.2% (8-for-36) from beyond the arc, though they did outscore Dallas 31-7 off turnovers. They’ll host Indiana on Saturday.

The Mavs had won six consecutive home games. They’re at home on Sunday against Memphis.

Chris Paul has reportedly signed a four-year extension that will keep him with the Phoenix Suns. The deal is worth up to $120 million. His agents Steve Heumann and Ty Sullivan confirmed the deal when speaking with ESPN. Paul is expected to be ready for the Suns’ training camp after having surgery on his left wrist.

Paul’s deal comes alongside signings of guard Cameron Payne and big man JaVale McGee. Payne will be with the Suns for three years, and McGee for one.

Earlier, Paul declined his $44 million player option for next season.

Paul averaged 16.4 points per game alongside 49.9% shooting, 8.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

“I think for me, I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more, and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again,” Paul said of his time with the Suns.

Phoenix was just two wins away from an NBA Finals win.

Chris Paul was two wins away from winning his first NBA championship after the Phoenix Suns took an early 2-0 series lead. Unfortunately, Phoenix was unable to close out the Milwaukee Bucks, who mounted a comeback to win the series and the title on Tuesday.

The Suns became just the fifth team in Finals history to lose after starting the series up 2-0. Paul became the first player in league history to lose four playoff series in which his team held a 2-0 lead.

“It will take a while to process this or whatnot, but it’s the same mentality,” Paul said after the Bucks’ 105-98 series clincher. “Get back to work. I ain’t retiring if that’s what you’re asking. That’s out. So, back to work.”

The 36-year-old All-Star finished Game 6 with 26 points and five assists on 11-for-19 shooting, keeping the Suns close in the game. The Suns were within four points with 1:14 remaining, but it wasn’t enough to force a Game 7 back in Phoenix.

“Right now, you’re just trying to figure out what you could have done more,” Paul said. “It’s tough. Great group of guys, a hell of a season, but this one is going to hurt for a while.”

Paul has a player option worth $44.2 million for next season, and many contending teams have an interest in him. But he didn’t give any indication that he will leave the young Suns’ team.

“Everybody in that locker room knows we had enough, but it wasn’t enough,” Paul said. “So, we got to figure it out. I think for me, I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more, and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again.”

The Phoenix Suns are now two wins away from their first NBA Finals victory in franchise history after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 by a final scoreline of 118-108.

Devin Booker netted 31 points, including seven three-point conversions. Star guard Chris Paul collected 23 points in the victory. A valiant effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo (42 points and 12 rebounds, including a 20-point third quarter) to carry his team was not enough to overcome the team-oriented play of Phoenix.

The win in Game 1 by Phoenix marks the first time the franchise took the first game in the finals, and the two victories match their total wins in the finals of 1976 and 1993.

Antetokounmpo was brief but direct in his analysis of the rest of the series. “We’ve got to go back home and protect home,” he said. Protecting home means better play from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who shot 7 for 21 and 5 for 16, respectively. If they do heat up, they could overcome a 2-0 hole for the second time this season – the first being their series victory over the Nets.

The Bucks will look to stop Phoenix’s potent offense, which quickly moves the ball around the perimeter and is loaded with a host of outside shooters. Giannis will need to stop carrying so much of the offensive burden to give Milwaukee a chance, as his 15 buckets were more than double any of his teammates.

Regardless of the loss, Antetokounmpo still shined. “I will say it’s incredible what he’s been able to do, and it hasn’t happened without time he’s put in to get himself ready, get his body better and continue to do the things that he does to be a two-time MVP,” said Bucks guard Pat Connaughton.

Milwaukee has relied on inside scoring to keep pace with Phoenix’s multilayered offense. They will need to add in makes from beyond the arc and diversify who is putting up points in order to overcome the Suns in Game 3.

Game 3 will be Sunday night in Milwaukee.

The Phoenix Suns took Game 1 at home behind a miraculous effort from Chris Paul, who scored 32 points and dished out nine assists. Giannis Antetkounmpo was not fully healthy and looked noticeably slower as he played through a leg injury that kept him out of the final few games of Milwaukee’s series against the Hawks. Game 2 tips off tonight in Phoenix. Let’s take a look at the spread, moneyline, total and more as we gear up for this pivotal matchup.

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• Bucks Odds: +5.5
• Suns Odds: -5.5
• Moneyline: +185 / -215
• Over / Under: 220.5
• Time: 9:05 p.m. EST
• TV Network: ABC

Considering they are coming off a 13-point victory, Monty Williams is unlikely to make many adjustments for Phoenix. The offense was brilliant in Game 1 as the Suns utilized the pick-and-roll. Deandre Ayton was phenomenal on both ends of the floor, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Devin Booker wasn’t that efficient on offense (1-of-8 on three-point shots), however, he did convert all 10 of his free throws and finished with 27 points. If the Suns get similar production out of their trio of stars in Game 2, they will be very difficult to stop.

While the Suns will likely head into Game 2 with the same gameplan they had in Game 1, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to make a ton of adjustments, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Mike Budenholzer should ask his players to stop switching assignments even when screens are set. The Bucks tried the switching plan in Game 1 and were absolutely burned. Paul and Booker torched Brook Lopez in one-on-one situations all night long. That can’t happen again if Milwaukee wants to even the series. The Bucks also have to remain physical, but not foul nearly as much as they did in Game 1. Phoenix sank 25-of-26 attempts from the charity stripe on Tuesday. The Bucks will have to find a way to play strong perimeter defense without sending the Suns to the line.

Offensively, the Bucks need to get to the foul line more themselves. They only had 16 attempts from the charity stripe in Game 1. Milwaukee also needs to do a much better job finishing inside the paint. According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Bucks shot just 13-for-24 (54.2%) within five feet of the rim in Game 1. During the regular season, they averaged 19.3 field goal makes on 29.3 field goal attempts (66.1%).

Overall, it will be very interesting to see the adjustments that each team makes ahead of Game 2. Obviously, the health of Antetkounmpo is critical for Milwaukee, but even if he is not feeling 100 percent healthy, we all know he will be on the court, which is valuable in and of itself. And don’t forget about Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday; they were phenomenal in the former MVP’s absence against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prediction: The Bucks cannot afford to fall two games down in this series. Budenholzer has one of the most brilliant minds in the NBA and I believe that he will find a way to make the necessary changes to not only cover the 5.5-point spread but also to steal Game 2 on the road.

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Chris Paul shined in his NBA Finals debut by making history in the Suns’ Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Paul became the third player in NBA history 36 years old or older to score 30+ points. The point guard joins Tim Duncan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Paul scored 32 points and dished out nine assists to lead the Phoenix to their first NBA Finals victory since 1993. He also became the first person to have 30 points and eight assists in a final since Michael Jordan in 1991.

The Bucks were unable to defend Paul’s pick-and-rolls all night long. The Suns exploited Bucks center, Brook Lopez, by forcing him to switch onto Paul. Lopez was unable to guard Paul as he continuously torched him from the mid-range. Paul also lobbed it to DeAndre Ayton for alley-oops after Ayton would set a screen. Phoenix also exploited Milwaukee’s double-teams on Devin Booker. Whenever Booker was double-teamed by the Bucks, he passed it to open teammates for easy three-point shots. Lopez was the main target on the pick-and-rolls and was eventually benched in the third quarter. He did not return.

This continuous exploitation of the Bucks’ defense allowed the Suns to run away with the lead in the third quarter, increasing the lead to 20 points. Milwaukee attempted a fourth-quarter comeback that brought them to within seven, but it wasn’t enough. Phoenix held on for a 118-105 Game 1 victory.

Milwaukee’s star Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a knee injury despite being listed as doubtful earlier in the day. Antetokounmpo scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while fellow All-Star and teammate Khris Middleton scored 29 points. Antetokounmpo played noticeably slower and was not himself. The Bucks need him to be 100 percent healthy if they want any shot at winning the title. Milwaukee will also have to revise its plan on defense to counter Phoenix’s offense.

Although Paul led the Suns, Ayton and Booker played brilliantly as well. Ayton finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds while Booker added 27 points.

The Suns are now three wins away from winning their first NBA title. Game 2 will be played on Thursday.

Chris Paul, until very recently, was on the precipice of having a career marred by “what-if” and “if only.” A slate of injuries and disappointing performances had many questioning whether the guard would ever redeem his previous stardom.

Then the 2021 NBA playoffs commenced. Paul has propelled the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993, with the point guard dropping 41 points in the clinching game. He has reinvented his game in nearly every facet – he is physical, aggressive, dazzles with electrifying jukes and dribbles, shoots the ball from range, drives to the hoop, dishes out no-look assists and hits critical crunch-time shots.

Paul’s newfound energy is tangible; he is smiling, gliding up and down the court with an aura of excitement that had been lost for some time in the veteran guard. His passes are a little bit crisper, his shots fire out from his hands more quickly, his dribbles are quicker. All of these signs indicate a rejuvenated Paul in year 17 of his career.

Much of Paul’s reinvention comes from his perfectionist nature – after a not-so-perfect stretch of seasons, his inner perfectionism bubbled up. The result was an explosive guard who refused to be denied throughout much of the regular season and one who seems destined for an NBA Finals victory this year.

Paul’s career has always been marked by this intensity. It has not always necessarily panned out for him – he has had a career of trials and tribulations. But, he has also had many successes. His attitude and skill have recently synthesized in a way unseen in his career.

Paul is now in the 2021 NBA Finals, with the chance to permanently rewrite how records and history will remember him as a player in the league. Undoubtedly, the sports world hopes for a happy ending to Paul’s major legacy overhaul.

The Phoenix Suns pulled off one of the most memorable plays in NBA Playoffs history. It was perhaps the most clutch play in the history of the franchise considering the Suns have never won an NBA championship.

The Suns were down with 0.9 seconds left in Tuesday’s Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers were up 103-102, and with barely any time left, and the Suns needed a quick play to steal the game. Phoenix head coach Monty Williams huddled his team during a timeout and devised a plan to win the game. The plan was for Jae Crowder to inbound an alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton.

Once the timeout ended, it was time to put the plan into motion. As Crowder inbounded the pass, Devin Booker provided a key screen for Ayton, allowing the big man to get open and stuff the ball over Clippers’ center Ivica Zubac for the buzzer-beater victory. The play was beautifully executed to the Phoenix fans’ delight, as the Suns now lead the series 2-0.

“The celebration and reaction were a little shaky,” Ayton said. “Because I wasn’t sure what I did. I wasn’t sure if it counted.”

Suns point guard Chris Paul (currently sidelined due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols) complimented the play on Twitter. “Big time play call, Coach Mont,” Paul said.

The alley-oop game-winner ended a Clippers rally that was led by Paul George, who finished with 26 points. George made a layup with 31 seconds left to give the Clippers a 101-100 lead. On their next offensive possession, he converted a 22-footer to put Los Angeles up 103-102.

While they were up, George had an opportunity to increase the Clippers’ lead when he was sent to the free-throw line. George, who is an 85% free throw shooter, missed both free throws with 8.2 seconds left in the game. This gave the Suns hope, and they executed flawlessly down the stretch.

“Obviously, it was an opportunity that was missed,” George said after the game. “Pat [Beverly] made an unbelievable play that put me in the position to extend the lead. I am always confident at the free-throw line. I have always been very successful in clutch moments at the free-throw line. Tonight, I was just unsuccessful.”

The Suns were led by Cameron Payne, who finished with a career-high 29 points and nine assists. Ayton added 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Booker had 20 points.

“We just had no answer for Cameron Payne,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “He got downhill all night. His speed and his quickness really hurt us all night.”

Phoenix has won a franchise-record nine straight playoff games. Meanwhile, the Clippers are in a 2-0 hole for the third time in the playoffs. Los Angeles is still confident because they have come back from this deficit before. After losing the first two games in the first round against the Mavericks, the Clippers finished Dallas off in Game 7. In the following round, Los Angeles won four straight games against the top-seeded Jazz after losing the first two games on the road.

Phoenix did what they were supposed to by holding home-court advantage. The series heads to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night. Without Kawhi Leonard, who is still out due to injury, the Clippers have an incredibly tough task ahead of them. However, it would be foolish to count them out after what they accomplished in the first two rounds of the postseason.