PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 06: Devin Booker #1 and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns celebrate during the second half in Game One of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Phoenix Suns Arena on July 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Phoenix waited 28 years before returning to the NBA Finals. Chris Paul, for all his brilliance, just made his long-sought debut on the championship stage after 16 years.
CP3 and the Suns made it worth the wait after a masterful second half en route to a 118-105 win at home over the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday (Manila time) in Game 1 of their best-of-seven title showdown.
The crafty playmaker fired 16 of his game-high 32 points in the third quarter, where the Suns took a 20-point lead. Paul, 36, went 12-of-19 from the field and finished with nine assists.
☀️ @CP3 tallies 32 PTS, 9 AST in his Finals debut, guiding the @Suns to victory in Game 1! #ThatsGame #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV Game 2: Thursday – 9:00pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/aXN1PS1Lwx
— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2021
Hear from Chris Paul after his 32-point, 9 assist performance led the @Suns to victory in Game 1 of the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV! #ThatsGame
Game 2: Thursday – 9:00pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/dWVVOIp5Gx
— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2021
“I just kept trying to be aggressive and my guys got going,” said Paul. “It’s trust. We’ve been building all season for this moment. We’re gonna keep playing, it’s just one game. We gotta stay locked in.”
“There was a lot of energy coming into this game. We got one. We’ve got to get another one.”
The Bucks, who welcomed back their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo after missing the last two games of the Eastern Conference finals with a hyperextended left knee, came within seven in the fourth period before CP3 and Booker hit timely baskets to put the game out of reach.
Booker added 27 points, going 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, and six assists with three steals to boot.
Deandre Ayton also provided significant contribution with 22 points and 19 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo started in his return and ended up with 20 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes of play. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee, which made the finals for the first time since 1974, with 29 points.
The Suns, who also drew double-digit scoring from Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Cam Payne, shoot for a 2-0 series edge on Friday.