Chris Paul had 24 points (10 in the fourth quarter) and 14 assists, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-107 in overtime.
Chris Paul made an 11-foot step-back jumper with 8.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie it at 102, and the Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 9-5 in overtime.
Cameron Payne’s 2 free throws with 10.0 seconds left in overtime made it 111-107 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 23-18. Paul (No. 2 in clutch wins added, 2021-22) scored 7 of the Suns’ 23 on 3 for 6 shooting and 1 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Damian Lillard had 4 of his 10 assists, 2 of them on baskets by Tony Snell and Anfernee Simons that put the Trail Blazers ahead.
Deandre Ayton had 28 points (24 in the paint) and 13 rebounds on 12 for 17 shooting. Paul assisted on 9 of Ayton’s 12 baskets, 3 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Trail Blazers, Lillard had 31 points and 10 assists, and Norman Powell added 23 points. Jusuf Nurkić had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The Suns shot 47.3% from the field and 35.5% from 3 to the Trail Blazers’ 41.7% and 31.7%. They outscored the Trail Blazers 19-7 on the fast break. The Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 28-16 in 12 minutes with Paul, Crowder, Payne, Ayton and Johnson on the floor together.