Cam Payne provides huge Game 2 lift
Cam Payne’s statistical night on the court started with an assist to Deandre Ayton for an easy two points, the Phoenix Suns’ first two of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday night. His own first two points came on a reverse layup 45 seconds later.
Then came a 3-pointer, and the confidence in scoring was there for the 26year-old guard asked to help facilitate the Suns’ attack with Chris Paul out due to health and safety protocols.
Payne went on to score 29 points and dish out nine assists in the Suns’ thrilling 104-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. He made just 2 of 8 3s, but hit 12 of a team high 24 shots for the game, including some impressive runners and floaters off the glass, step-backs and cutting layups.
It was the game of a lifetime on a grand stage for a player once trying to revive his pro basketball career in China, and who is now a major part of the Suns’ success in these NBA playoffs.
With Paul first dealing with a shoulder injury in the first-round series, and now having tested positive for COVID, Phoenix and head coach Monty Williams have leaned more on Payne, who made just his second career postseason start.
He looked aggressive on offense and played 371⁄2 minutes on Tuesday. With Devin Booker not hitting shots the way he did in Game 1 and Paul out, offense had to come from somewhere. A good deal of it came from Payne. “Honestly, just holding it down for ‘C’ (Paul). Really. It’s kind of crazy, but I’m just trying to hold it down until ‘C’ gets back,” Payne said. “If it means me scoring, I’m willing to do what they need me to. My only thing is no turnovers. I’m trying to keep that same identity, because I’m a point guard. I just try to come out there, hold it down for ‘C,’ play my game and just live with the results.”
Turnovers? Not a single one for Payne.
“Unbelievable,” Suns forward Cam Johnson said. “He’s done a fantastic job of getting in there and making things happen. He really was on the attack, finding guys and getting buckets. Really proud of him, really happy for him.”
Payne made a scoop finger-roll layup with 7:44 left in the third quarter to give the Suns a 59-54 lead and force a Clippers time out. He circled the court excitedly, cheers raining down, as he jogged back to the Suns’ bench.
That basket was big, but not as big as the driving layup Payne converted with 1:34 to play, giving the Suns a 10095 lead. The Suns lost the lead momentarily, but as it turned out, every last point mattered in the victory.
Payne’s 29 points were the fourthmost scored by a player making either his first or second career postseason start for Phoenix.
“Cam Payne, he’s not scared of the moment. He’s not scared to go out and make a play,” Booker said.
“We’ve had conversations about him being him, don’t worry about being Chris,” Williams said. “We like what Cam brings to the table.”
As he spoke to reporters after the game, Payne figured he already had a missed call on his phone from Paul, to discuss some aspect of his game.
“That’s why he is who he is. Tons of communication. A lot of people don’t do that,” Payne said of Paul. “Especially in his position. His communication is high level, and that’s big time for our team.”