CP3? More like CP30-Piece. In Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns first round series of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans, Chris Paul did what Chris Paul does. The 12-time NBA All-Star, who will be 37-years old before the playoffs end, scored 30 points in the 110-99 Phoenix win Sunday night, with 19 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. With 10 assists and seven rebounds, he was just three boards short of a triple double.

The numbers speak for themselves, but it's the context that elevates the performance from the 17-year NBA veteran. Phoenix led by as many as 23 in the third quarter. By the start of the fourth, the led was just 8. The momentum was clearly in the favor of the Pelicans, who took advantage by at-times lazy defense from the Suns and poor shooting.

Enter the Chris Paul show

With the Suns lead cut to 80-73 with the 11:15 remaining, clutch time started a little early for Paul and Phoenix. From that point, Paul scored 17 of the Suns next 19 points, while assisting Javale McGee on a dunk during that stretch. Paul completely took over the game and put the lead back to double digits before defeating the Pelicans by 11.

Paul was 7-of-8 shooting in the quarter and 3-of-4 from three. He slammed the door on any comeback chances for New Orleans and showed why Phoenix was the best team in the clutch this season.

Paul reminded fans of the NBA why he's one the best closers in the NBA. He simply knows where the ball needs to go in the most crucial moments — whether that's a pull-up three in a defender's face or a sharp pass to McGee of a pick-and-roll.

https://twitter.com/SunsNationCP/status/1515892654000979969?s=20&t=8ExL1we_ULhv5-DvsSOYUw

“That's just classic Chris. At the right time, he takes over, and we needed it,” head coach Monty Williams told reporters after the game. “I don't think I've been around anybody like Chris who just has an innate feel for that time.”

It's not the first time

When all-time closers are mentioned — LeBron, MJ, Kobe, etc. — are mentioned, Paul's is typically left out. Paul doesn't have the ring to show for it, and while that may change this season, he'll continue to be left out until he wins one. But Sunday night was far from the first time Paul has put a team on his back in a playoff game.

The 2015 Western Conference first round series between the San Antonio Spurs and Paul's Los Angeles Clippers was an all-timer. The third-seeded Clippers were down 3-2 to the Spurs, but a 102-96 win in San Antonio sent L.A. to game seven.

In that seventh game, a Tim Duncan free throw tied it at 109 with just over 8-seconds left. Paul then took things into his own hands. In an isolation situation against Danny Green, Paul dribbled to the right before pulling up just outside the paint with an acrobatic shot off the glass to give L.A. the 111-109 lead with a second left.

Paul had similar moments during his stint in Houston. With a 1-point lead in a closeout game five against the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2018 playoffs, Paul blew the game wide open for the Rockets.

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Leading 88-87 with 7:41 left, Paul went toe-to-toe with the Jazz, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot to lead Houston to the Western Conference Finals. He showed off his versatility, hitting anything from spot-up threes to his signature elbow jumper to driving layups.

Paul was injured early on in the conference finals against the Golden State Warriors, which went seven games, becoming one of the “what ifs” of the last decade in the NBA.

Is this the year?

Those examples are two of many. Paul just did it again to open the 2021-2022 title chase for Phoenix. And odds are, if the Suns are going to contend for a title he'll need to do it again.