Suns show mettle down the stretch
Bridges’ dunks help hold off Pelicans for 3-2 series lead
Mikal Bridges was playing his 47th minute of basketball Tuesday when he leaped into the air, threw down a huge two-handed jam and pulled himself up on the rim with a little sneer for good measure.
He’s the do-everything man for these Suns. And, no, he’s not even close to tired.
Bridges had 31 points and four blocks in arguably the best game of his career, leading the top-seeded Suns over the Pelicans 112-97 in Phoenix to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Chris Paul added 22 points and 11 assists. Deandre Ayton added 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Suns never trailed but also never pulled away until the final few minutes against the Pelicans. Once again, the Suns found a way to close, improving to 50-0 this season when leading after three quarters, including 3-0 in this series.
Bridges closed the Suns’ scoring with two emphatic dunks in the final minute. Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans. According to reports Wednesday night, Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker may return for Game 6 or a potential Game 7 after missing three straight games with a strained right hamstring.
Morant comes up big late: Ja Morant scored on a layup with a second left, and the Grizzlies rallied from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to edge the Timberwolves 111-109 on Tuesday in Memphis, Tennessee, and grab a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.
Morant struggled mightily much of the game. But he turned it on in the fourth, scoring 18 points.
Morant came from the low post as the Grizzlies inbounded the ball with 3.7 seconds left and lost Anthony Edwards at the top of the key. That left him an open lane into the paint, beating Jarred Vanderbilt with his left hand for a layup.
Morant finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Desmond
Bane added 25 points for the second-seeded Grizzlies.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the seventhseeded Timberwolves with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Game 6 is Friday in Minneapolis.
Injury updates: A day after an MRI on his left hamstring was negative, Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said he would be available for Thursday’s Game 6 against the Mavericks. “I’m good to go,” Mitchell said. “I’ll be ready.” ... Warriors forward Andre Iguodala will be out at least one week with a left cervical disk injury.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
76ers vs. Raptors
Where, when, TV: Toronto; 7 p.m. EDT; NBA TV.
Bottom line: The fourth-seeded 76ers lead the Eastern Conference first-round series 3-2 and have another chance to close it out after losing the last two games. Pascal Siakam had 23 points as the fifth-seeded Raptors staved off elimination again with a 103-88 victory Monday in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid had 20 points for the 76ers.
Suns vs. Pelicans
Where, when, TV: New Orleans;
7:30 p.m. EDT; TNT.
Bottom line: The top-seeded Suns lead the Western Conference first-round series 3-2 and can close it out after earning a 112-97 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday in Phoenix. Mikal Bridges had 31 points in the win. Brandon Ingram scored 22 points for the eighth-seeded Pelicans.
Mavericks vs. Jazz
Where, when, TV: Salt Lake City;
10 p.m. EDT; TNT.
Bottom line: The fourth-seeded Mavericks lead the West first-round series 3-2 and can close it out after earning a 102-77 victory in Game 5 on Monday in Dallas. Luka Doncic had 33 points in the win. Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points for the fifth-seeded Jazz.