Phoenix guard Chris Paul passed two of the NBA’s great playmakers to move into third in NBA history in assists during Tuesday night’s 112-100 victory over the New Orleans. Paul moved into third when he notched his eighth assist of the game with 1:33 left in the second quarter with a pass to Jae Crowder for an open 3-pointer to give him 10,336 for his career. – via The Athletic NBA Staff @ The Athletic
Paul entered the game fifth all-time with 10,328 assists, six behind Mark Jackson (10,334) and seven behind Steve Nash (10,335). He passed Jackson and tied Nash with a pass to Devin Booker that led to a 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the first. “It’s amazing,” Paul said in the postgame interview with TNT. “My family’s here, my dad, who put the ball in my hands when it first started. And playing against New Orleans, where it all started for me. That city will always be my family for me.” – via The Athletic NBA Staff @ The Athletic
Paul also had 14 points Tuesday night, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter as the Suns outscored New Orleans 32-16 to secure the victory. “We keep acting like this is normal,” Suns guard Devin Booker said of Paul’s achievements. “We go in the locker room like, ‘Oh you passed Steve Nash, Mark Jackson. Game ball.’ It’s bigger than that, man. It really is. Obviously I know he was going to be close coming into today and he passed it by a lot. I’m just happy to be a part of it.” – via Andrew Lopez @ ESPN
