11:12 PM ET
ESPN News Services
LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul was backmost successful a acquainted gathering successful a metropolis helium inactive calls home. With his parents, wife, kids and member looking on, helium became the 3rd subordinate successful NBA past to scope 11,000 assists.
Propelled by Devin Booker's 35 points, the Phoenix Suns bushed the LA Clippers 112-95 connected Sunday night.
"There's been a batch of firsts present astatine the Staples Center,'' Paul said earlier correcting himself. "Well, Crypto arena.''
Paul assisted connected the Suns' archetypal handbasket of the game, a 3-pointer by Booker. Paul followed with an alley-oop walk to Deandre Ayton, who dunked, to springiness him 11,000 assists.
"I honestly didn't person a hint until I checked retired of the game,'' helium said.
Paul joined John Stockton and Jason Kidd arsenic the lone players successful NBA past with that galore assists. Paul besides became the archetypal subordinate successful the league with 20,000 points and 11,000 assists.
"It's amazing,'' Suns manager Monty Williams said. "I look astatine him and I'm like, beatified smokes, I get to manager Chris Paul.''
Stockton had 15,806 assists and Kidd, present manager of the Dallas Mavericks, had 12,091.
Fittingly, Paul reached the people against the Clippers, with whom helium played for six seasons and is the franchise's vocation assists leader. He mentioned erstwhile Lob City teammates Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and JJ Reddick for playing roles successful his success.
Paul credited being a pupil of the crippled and his galore teammates implicit his NBA career, present successful its 18th season.
"I've been fortunate to play for a portion present with a batch of large shooters, large players successful general,'' helium said, ticking disconnected specified names arsenic David West, Peja Stojakovic and present Booker. "I'm privileged.''
Paul finished with 7 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds. He had a combined 21 assists successful the Suns' archetypal 2 games of the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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