Chris Paul climbs to third in all-time assists as Suns top Pelicans
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Suns 110-107. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Chris Paul posted a double-double and reached a career milestone as the host Phoenix Suns defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 112-100 on Tuesday night.
Paul scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 assists while passing Mark Jackson and former Sun Steve Nash to move into third place in the NBA’s all-time assist list.
Paul, 36, ended the night with 10,346 assists as he topped Jackson (10,334) and then Nash (10,335). The list is topped by John Stockton (15,806) and Jason Kidd (12,091).
Chris Paul tonight:
14 points (5-5 in 4Q)
7 boards
18 DIMES
20 point @Suns comeback……On a night where @CP3 moved up from 5th to 3rd all-time in assists! pic.twitter.com/n82VmoberH
— NBA (@NBA) November 3, 2021
Mikal Bridges scored 22 points, JaVale McGee and Devin Booker had 18 each, Frank Kaminsky scored 17 and Jae Crowder added 13 for Phoenix. The Suns outscored the Pelicans 36-18 in the fourth quarter while earning their second consecutive victory.
Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Josh Hart scored 16, Devonte’ Graham added 12 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker 10 to lead the Pelicans, who were playing the first of four road games in seven days.
New Orleans lost for the seventh time in eight games to begin the season.
Kaminsky and Cameron Johnson had consecutive three-point plays as the Suns, who faced a 20-point deficit in the first half, pulled within 65-62 midway through the third quarter.
POINT GOD.
Chris Paul just passed Steve Nash on the all-time assists list. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/NDeGvBRP5D
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 3, 2021
Valanciunas scored seven points as the Pelicans built the lead to 12, but Johnson’s 3-pointer got Phoenix within 82-76 at the end of the period.
McGee scored the final five points of a 7-0 Suns run to start the fourth quarter.
Garrett Temple made two free throws to stop the run, and the lead changed hands seven times in less than three minutes.
Paul made back-to-back jumpers to help Phoenix take a 97-91 lead midway through the period.
The Pelicans got within one point, but Paul answered with two more jumpers and Booker added seven straight Phoenix points as the Suns took control with a 108-98 lead.
In the first quarter, Trey Murphy III made a 3-pointer as New Orleans took a 16-point lead before Elfrid Payton’s dunk got Phoenix within 36-22 at the end of the period.
Valanciunas made a 3-pointer and added another basket to help the Pelicans take a 51-31 lead in the second.
Phoenix scored the next seven points before Alexander-Walker made a basket to end the run.
The Suns sank two 3-pointers to get within nine before Hart’s layup sent New Orleans into halftime with a 59-48 lead.
