The Phoenix Suns just took a very important Game 5 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and now sit with a 3-2 lead, one win away from booking a berth in the second round. Many had Phoenix winning the series, but after the Pelicans took two games from them and Devin Booker got hurt, there was some genuine hope that NOLA can pull off a 1-8 upset.
Game 5 saw the Suns outplay them through the strength of their roster, as offensive magnets CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram struggled to score as freely as they had in prior games.
A lot of the credit for that goes to Mikal Bridges, who was easily the best Suns player on both ends of the floor. He ended the game with 31 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks. Twitter exploded in praise for Bridges, as his contribution was impossible to ignore. In addition, fans also went in on CJ McCollum and were impressed by Jose Alvarado.
Mikal Bridges is an Iron Man.
— Never missed a game in 4 seasons
— Most minutes played this season
— Played 47 minutes tonight
He had 31/5/2/2/4 in Game 5. pic.twitter.com/DB7NC6UkdI
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 27, 2022
Mikal Bridges tonight:
31 points on 17 shots
Defended CJ McCollum for 36 plays, held him to 10 points on 3/11 shooting
Defended Brandon Ingram for 34 plays, held him to 7 points on 2/5 plus 3 turnovers
All that in 46:54 of playing time
Extraordinary performance for the Suns.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) April 27, 2022
Crazy to think that Mikal Bridges averaged 32 MPG during last year's run.
He's logged 40, 40, 41 in the last 3 games. Tonight he's sat *1* minute through 3 quarters.
— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) April 27, 2022
Best game of Mikal Bridges' young career. Delightful to see
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 27, 2022
Mikal Bridges played 47 minutes. Chris Paul played 39.
Series will probably be determined by how much those guys have left in the tank for Game 6.
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) April 27, 2022
Mikal Bridges turned into Prime TMAC tonight
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 27, 2022
That Mikal game is one you tell your kids about
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) April 27, 2022
Mikal Bridges just had one of the best all around single game performances I’ve ever seen
— Isaac 🔱🐦(2-1) (@mikalbridge) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/ProteinP_TM/status/1519174942012628993
Mikal Bridges just played an unbelievable 35 minutes out of a possible 36. Has been tremendous on Ingram.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) April 27, 2022
This game isn’t just the best game of Mikal Bridges’s career, it’s one of the best games by any Suns player in playoffs this year or last if you factor in offense and defense.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) April 27, 2022
McCollum's only modes are "are we sure this isn't a top 20 player" and "this is the worst basketball player i've ever seen"
— Mike (@mhc_76) April 27, 2022
Don’t know who’s player of the game for the Suns
Mikal and McCollum in a very tightly contested battle.
— Aligned RB (@RyB_311) April 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/DameSwapzz/status/1519172390948769792
Chris Paul has two 8 second violations in back to back games.
Grand. Theft. Alvarado. pic.twitter.com/svX6mQU2FJ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 27, 2022
Jose Alvarado singlehandedly making the 8-second rule cool again,
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 27, 2022
Man i love Jose Alvarado
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) April 27, 2022
The Pelicans will need to fight as hard as possible to win Game 6 considering the different tiers these teams have been through most of the season. The Suns are battle-tested and have shown the ability to play genuine playoff basketball. The Pelicans have surprised the Suns twice, but can they do it twice more in consecutive games to win the series?
Hopefully, both teams come out and give us a memorable and competitive Game 6. Phoenix will not have Devin Booker back for this series and will be relying on someone like Mikal Bridges to repeat this offensive performance. If not Mikal, it’ll have to be someone like Cam Johnson or DeAndre Ayton who steps up.
CP3 has been solid in Booker’s absence and will need to continue being the leader of this team if they hope to see this period out and make it to the second round, where they will hopefully have Booker back.
