NBA Finals: Chris Paul Carries Phoenix Suns To Game 1 Win

PHOENIX, AZ — The Phoenix Suns' first NBA Finals game in close to three decades was met by a crescendo of crowd noise and a triumphant performance by veteran guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

Paul and Booker, who were making their finals debuts in their 16th and sixth season in the NBA, respectively, combined to score 59 points in Tuesday's opening game of the Suns' series against the Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks.

The duo's scoring prowess was more than enough to power the home side to a 118-105 victory over the Bucks, giving the more than 16,000 patrons in the peanut gallery at downtown's Phoenix Suns Arena something to clamor over.

For Paul, the highlight of Tuesday's victory was the team-wide effort put in against a Bucks roster that's loaded with versatile players.

“We’ve been building all season long for these moments,” Paul said. “We’re going to keep playing. This is just one game. We’ve got to stay locked in.”

For younger players, like third-year forward Mikal Bridges, the focus was on Paul finally getting to shine on the sport's biggest stage.

“Just knew he’s ready,” Bridges said of Paul. “He’s prepared his whole life for this moment and it shows out there on the court.”

Paul certainly appeared more than primed for his primetime outing, connecting on 12-of-19 field goals, while dishing out nine assists and pulling down four rebounds in Phoenix's Game 1 win.

The veteran guard was far from the only Suns player to thrive, however, with forward Deandre Ayton adding 22 points and 19 rebounds, while Bridges (14 points), Cameron Payne and Cam Johnson (10 points apiece) providing a definite spark for the squad in Game 1.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who grew up in the northern Arizona hamlet of Holbrook, had a bittersweet homecoming Tuesday night.

Budenholzer tipped his cap to Suns head coach Monty Williams and the team's backcourt combo of Paul and Booker in his postgame comments.

"I think we’ve just got to keep getting better," Budenholzer said. "We’ll look at the film. We’ll see how we can maybe take away some of the rhythm.”

Looking Forward

The Suns and Bucks will meet again on the hardwood of downtown's Phoenix Suns Arena at 6 p.m. local time Thursday.

The only injury listed, as of Wednesday morning, is the knee injury that Suns forward Dario Šarić suffered in Tuesday's Game 1 victory.

Šarić is out for the remainder of the series, after tearing the ACL in his right knee, the team said on Wednesday morning.

As of Wednesday morning, the Suns are a 5.5-point favorite to win Game 2, according to ESPN.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.