With 5:09 to go in the first quarter, the West-leading Phoenix Suns (16-9) took a 16-13 lead over the East-leading Boston Celtics (21-5) on a patented Chris Paul mid-range shot, and this looked like it would be a barn-burner between two of the best teams in the NBA. Maybe even an NBA Finals preview.
It wasn’t.
From that point on, the Celtics outscored the Suns by 30 points the rest of the HALF. Boston outscored the Suns by 13 points the last 5 minutes of the first quarter, and then by 17 in the second quarter to take a 27-point halftime lead, 69-42.