Somebody had to step up offensively for the Phoenix Suns. Since Devin Booker went down with a grade 1 hamstring strain in game 2 against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Suns have struggled to knock down shots. Outside of Chris Paul's fourth-quarter outbursts, nobody has truly stepped up to replace Booker's production.

Until Tuesday night's 114-97 game 5 win, that is.

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year runner-up showed the Pelicans that he can do some damage with the ball in his hands too. Mikal Bridges went off for a playoff career-high 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting in a ridiculous 47 minutes of intense playoff minutes.

The offensive production wasn't a surprise to a couple of Bridges' Suns teammates.

Iron man

The stat has been everywhere during the playoffs. In his four years as an NBA player, Bridges hasn't missed a game. If there's a statistic that impresses a 17-year NBA vet, it's that one.

“Kal [Bridges], Kal was amazing,” Chris Paul told reporters following Tuesday night's game. “But I expect that from him so it's not a surprise to us … The expectations are there … he plays every single night.”

Suns head coach Monty Williams would like another Mikal Bridges to insert into the rotation.

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“Can't clone him, but you wish you could,” Williams told reporters. “He's one of those rare basketball players that can play that way on defense but also give you the point production that he gave tonight … He's learned how to use his length to his advantage and play that kind of defense and have only one foul.”

The 30+ point, 4+ three and 4+ block performance puts the 25-year-old in rare company. The only other players in NBA history to replicate that playoff stat line is LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. Not bad. He'll be a crucial piece of the Suns closing out this series.