Chris Paul catches turnover bug at bad time for the Suns

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, center, fights for a rebound with Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) and center Brook Lopez, right, during the first half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer

The ball was in Chris Paul’s hands with 35 seconds left and his team needed a bucket to tie or take the lead in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The Phoenix Suns — and the 11-time All-Star — wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

The point guard did one crossover dribble to shake Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday. Then he immediately did another to try and lose Giannis Antetokounmpo.

What happened next was not what the Suns or Paul expected. He just … fell down. The ball bounced away and so did Phoenix’s chances of taking a commanding lead in the series.

Holiday scooped up the free possession and the Bucks converted a 3-on-1 fastbreak when Khris Middleton scored a layup. Just like that, Milwaukee had taken control of a come-from-behind 109-103 victory on Wednesday night that evened these finals at 2-2.

“The turnovers,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Just crushed us.”

Game 5 is on Saturday in Phoenix.

The 36-year-old Paul — who has waited 16 seasons to play in the NBA Finals — didn’t shy away from taking the blame.

“It was me, I had five of them,” Paul said of the turnovers. “It was bad decision making. At the time, we’re down two. I try to crossover right there, slip, turn it over. There were some bad passes in the first half. They got a significant amount of more shots than us, so for me, I’ve got to take care of the ball.”