By R.L. Bynum
Cameron Johnson struggled with his shot on Tuesday night, but came up with a big driving dunk in the final two minutes to ignite a key 8–0 run in the Phoenix Suns’ 112–97 Game 5 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Phoenix takes a 3–2 lead in their first-round series heading to New Orleans for Game 6 Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (TNT).
Johnson dribbled across half court, darted past former Duke star Brandon Ingram, then weaved his way past two other Pelicans defenders for an emphatic one-handed dunk. Phoenix quickly took control of what was a seven-point game.
Johnson, who had several nice passes in the game, nearly had a double-double with eight points, nine rebounds and five assists while shooting 3 of 8 from the floor and making only 1 of 5 attempts from 3-point range. He is 8 of 25 from 3-point range for the series and has multiple 3s in only two games.
Looking for scoring in the absence of All-Star Devin Booker, who is out with a strained right hamstring, the Suns got it with 31 points and five blocks from Mikal Bridges.
Coby White, Tony Bradley and the Chicago Bulls try to stay alive in their first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls trail 3–1 with Game 5 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (TNT).
The bad news for Chicago is that Zach LaVine (health-and-safety protocols) and Alex Caruso (concussion protocols) are questionable for the game.
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off until Wednesday
Playoff statistics — 1 game, 10 points, 5–5 FG, 3 rebounds
Regular-season statistics — 55 games, 3.0 points, 58.5 FG%, 65.5 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Series scores, schedule
April 17: Milwaukee 93, Chicago 86
April 20: Chicago 114, Milwaukee 110
April 22: Milwaukee 111, Chicago 81
April 24: Milwaukee 119, Chicago 95; Bucks lead series 3–1
Wednesday at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m., TNT
x — Friday at Chicago, TBD, TBD
x — Sunday at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off until Thursday
Playoff statistics — 5 games, 11.6 points, 46.3 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 4–4 FT, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Regular-season statistics — 68 games, 8.6 points, 40.1 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Series scores, schedule
April 16: Utah 99, Dallas 93
April 18: Dallas 110, Utah 105
April 21: Dallas 126, Utah 118
April 23: Utah 100, Dallas 99
Monday: Dallas 102, Utah 77; Mavericks lead series 3–2
Thursday at Utah, 10 p.m., TNT
x — Saturday at Dallas, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off until Thursday
Playoff statistics — 5 games, 8.4 points, 32.6 FG%, 32.4 3FG%, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Regular-season statistics — 62 games, 5.9 points, 39.4 FG%, 38.0 3FG%, 20–24 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Series scores, schedule
April 16: Philadelphia 131, Toronto 111
April 18: Philadelphia 112, Toronto 97
April 20: Philadelphia 104, Toronto 101
April 23: Toronto 110, Philadelphia 102
Monday: Toronto 108, Philadelphia 88; Sixers lead series 3–2
Thursday at Toronto, 7 p.m., NBATV
x — Saturday at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
112–97 Game 5 win vs. New Orleans — Started; 37 minutes, 8 points, 3–8 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, +6
Playoff statistics — 5 games, 10.6 points, 44.2 FG%, 32.0 3FG%, 58.3 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Regular-season statistics — 66 games, 12.5 points, 46.0 FG%, 42.5 3FG%, 86.0 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Series scores, schedule
April 17: Phoenix 110, New Orleans 99
April 19: New Orleans 125, Phoenix 114
April 22: Phoenix 114, New Orleans 111
Sunday: New Orleans 118, Phoenix 103
Tuesday: Phoenix 112, New Orleans 97; Suns lead series 3–2
Thursday at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m., TNT
x —Saturday at Phoenix, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Off until Thursday
Playoff statistics — Hasn’t played
Regular-season NBA season statistics — 19 games, 2.5 points, 35.9 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 10–10 FT, 1.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists
G League season statistics — 14 games, 15.7 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Series scores, schedule
April 16: Utah 99, Dallas 93
April 18: Dallas 110, Utah 105
April 21: Dallas 126, Utah 118
April 23: Utah 100, Dallas 99
Monday: Dallas 102, Utah 77; Mavericks lead series 3–2
Thursday at Utah, 10 p.m., TNT
x — Saturday at Dallas, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off until Wednesday
Playoff statistics — 4 games, 6.3 points, 31.0 FG%, 25.0 3FG%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Regular-season statistics — 61 games, 12.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 86.7 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Series scores, schedule
April 17: Milwaukee 93, Chicago 86
April 20: Chicago 114, Milwaukee 110
April 22: Milwaukee 111, Chicago 81
April 24: Milwaukee 119, Chicago 95; Bucks lead series 3–1
Wednesday at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m., TNT
x — Friday at Chicago, TBD, TBD
x — Sunday at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
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Photo via @suns
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