By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The New Orleans Pelicans got a 118-103 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the NBA playoffs and, while the hosts played at a high quality, their victory was overshadowed by the disparity in free throws that the Suns took a note to after the game.
In fact, New Orleans shot 42 compared to 15 free throws of the Suns and that difference was as much as 17 to 2 in the first half. Such a gap impacts the match without a doubt and especially so in the playoff environment where there’s an abundance of physicality on both sides.
“You can slice it any way you want to. In a playoff game that physical, [the disparity] is amazing. Coaches shouldn’t have to come up to the microphone and feel like they’re going to get their heads cut off for speaking the truth,” coach Monty Williams noted.
Pelicans attacked the basket aggressively with 46 shots in the paint but Phoenix wasn’t behind much with 41 attempts. However, just Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas combined finished the game with 21 free throws. On the other hand, Chris Paul didn’t visit the charity stripe for the first time in this series.
Free throws aside, the Pelicans still outplayed the Suns. Ingram finished with 30 points to become the first player in team history with 30-point displays over three straight playoff games.
Valanciunas stepped up with 26 points and 15 rebounds while CJ McCollum had 18 points and nine rebounds. On the opposing team, DeAndre Ayton scored 23 and JaVale Mcgee 14 points. Paul dished out 11 assists but scored only four points.
The Suns have been struggling noticeably more offensively with Devin booker injured but the series is still tied at 2-2 and they will have the home-court advantage in Game 5 as well as Game 7 if needed.