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We officially have a series on our hands. The New Orleans Pelicans made a push late against the Phoenix Suns, in Game 2, and pulled out a 125-114 win over the No. 1-seeded Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.  Led by a 37-point performance from Brandon Ingram, and another 23 points from CJ McCollum, the Pelicans held off a Phoenix team that fought until the very end of the game. Not many people expected New Orleans to even win a game in this series, but now the Pelicans will be heading back to Louisiana with a win under their belt and momentum going into Game 3.

On the other end, the Suns really never were able to build up a big enough lead to blow this game wide open. But while this loss will leave a bad taste in Phoenix's mouth, the bigger concern is the health of Devin Booker, who left in the third quarter with right hamstring tightness. He didn't return to the game after putting up 31 points in the first half, and is expected to get an MRI on his injured hamstring. 

Here are three takeaways from the Pelicans' Game 2 win over the Suns. 

There was a point early in the third quarter where Ingram looked like he was laboring a bit every trip up the floor. He was grimacing after every possession on offense and looked to favor one side as he gingerly moved around on defense. It was later discovered that he rolled his ankle at some point as he landed awkwardly after a jump shot. 

Here's how the injury occurred:

TNT espied Brandon Ingram tweaking that left ankle. Why he hasn't been moving quite like himself. pic.twitter.com/Y0QLwstDqi

As painful as that looked, it never kept Ingram out of the game for any significant amount of time, and it certainly didn't slow his production for the Pelicans. The Suns didn't have an answer for the versatile forward all night, ankle roll and all. He was drilling 3s, charging at the rim with great finesse and was making incredibly difficult shots from the midrange, too. Ingram's 10 points in the fourth quarter proved to be clutch for New Orleans as it fought tooth and nail for this win against the top-seeded Suns. 

It really didn't matter who the Suns put in front of Ingram, he was torching every defender in sight. Ingram's game has always stood out because of his unique skill set at his size. He moves so gracefully across the floor, and his ability to score at all three levels makes him a tough assignment for even the best perimeter defender. He was feasting on smaller defenders down in the block, killing them with turnaround jumpers. If it wasn't that, then he was getting switches off of screens to create space and drill mid-range jumpers.

Ingram was just dominant from start to finish against the Suns, and Phoenix will have to figure out a way to contain him heading into Game 3, because right now it doesn't look like anyone is capable of slowing him down.  

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The Suns looked like they were going to run away with this game in large part due to Booker's 31 points in the first half. He simply looked unbothered through the first two quarters, raising the level of difficulty with every 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net. But after coming out of the game midway through the third quarter, many people began to notice that Booker wasn't on the bench. Prior to the start of the fourth quarter, Suns head coach Monty Williams said that there was a possibility that Booker was dealing with a right hamstring injury, which the team later confirmed was right hamstring tightness and listed him out for the remainder of the game.

Although it's not completely certain exactly when Booker suffered the injury, Williams said after the game that it likely happened as Booker was trying to go for a chase-down block in transition during the third quarter. He could be seen grimacing as he stumbled out of bounds, and Phoenix immediately called a timeout after that happened and removed him from the game. 

Here's the play where Williams thinks the injury likely occurred:

Devin Booker's hamstring injury, get better Book pic.twitter.com/PjK3yXVyCD

It was a significant blow for the Suns, who severely missed Booker's elite shotmaking ability down the stretch as the Pelicans continued to have a stranglehold on the game. But while the Game 2 loss may sting right now for Phoenix, the long-term health of Booker is certainly the priority for this team going forward. Booker is expected to get an MRI on the hamstring to see the severity of the injury, per TNT, and we'll know more once those results are announced. 

This isn't the first time Booker has dealt with a hamstring injury this season. Back in December, he missed seven games with a left hamstring strain, and he has had prior issues with his hamstrings over the course of his career. The Suns will hope that this injury isn't as severe as the one back in November, and that with the two days off between now and Game 3 on Friday he'll have enough time to rest and get ready for that matchup.

Booker being healthy is absolutely essential to the Suns' title hopes. If he has to miss significant time with this injury, it'll greatly hinder this team. While Phoenix has tons of talent up and down this roster, we saw in Game 2 that there really isn't another player on this team that possesses the kind of elite shotmaking skills that Booker has. If the Suns need a bucket they typically know they can rely on Booker to get them one, and without him on the floor during Game 2 Phoenix's offense got really stagnant, especially down the stretch. We'll have to wait and see how serious this injury is for Booker and the Suns. 

Ingram and McCollum did most of the heavy lifting for the Pelicans tonight, but they didn't secure this win for the Pelicans alone. Credit also needs to be given to the slew of young guys New Orleans has that didn't shy away from the moment in Game 2. Forward Jaxson Hayes provided a spark for the Pelicans at the start of the second half, showing off his freakish athleticism in transition for New Orleans. He had a couple of important blocks that kept the momentum from swinging in favor of the Suns, and didn't try to force anything on either end of the court.

Then there was the standout performance from rookie Herb Jones, who put up 14 points for New Orleans. In Game 1 it was rookie Trey Murphy III who finished the night with 14 points, and tonight Jones carried the torch for the rookies as he was getting it done on both ends of the floor. All season long Jones has been lauded for his defensive prowess, and while that was certainly on display in Game 2, what was even more impressive was his production on offense. He hasn't been known to be a consistent threat on that end of the floor, but tonight his contributions definitely made a difference for the Pelicans. Jones is typically left open on the perimeter, due to the fact that he shot just 33 percent from deep in the regular season. But he went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, as Phoenix dared him to shoot from far. It certainly didn't pan out the way the Suns wanted it to, and it'll now give Jones some confidence going forward in this series. 

The young guys on the Pelicans showed a great deal of composure every time the Suns tried to make a run, and they just stayed the course and executed head coach Willie Green's plan to perfection. After climbing back from a big deficit in the Game 1 loss, and grinding out a win in the second matchup, these Pelicans look like they can put up a fight for the rest of the series. 

Have a teammates that uplifts you like @Larrydn22 hypes up his squad 👏 pic.twitter.com/4nznxiDBzb

Pels win, you win! 🏀 Enjoy $10 off your @MichelobULTRA order when you use code PELICANS10 on https://t.co/UTkDgEDlk8 pic.twitter.com/R3n1dszh0k

"He just played with force." Willie Green on Brandon Ingram's big-time Game 2 performance. pic.twitter.com/3zqm12F9dv

Brandon Ingram said he was texting with Willie Green about what he saw on game film at midnight last night pic.twitter.com/oAYunvrs3K

"Throughout this year, I had confidence that we would be here," - B.I. pic.twitter.com/VYLvuS25k0

💥 37 points for Brandon Ingram 💥 26 in second half 💥 11 rebounds, 9 assists 💥 Pelicans tie the series 1-1 What a night for @B_Ingram13 in his second-ever playoff game.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/Nj6gKx9UM4

Watch Live: Brandon Ingram#OneNOLA | @Verizon https://t.co/ZOf4qJtuLh

Watch Live: Jonas Valančiūnas#OneNOLA | @Verizon https://t.co/hckjrLQPWd

"(Pelicans fans) going to show out when we get back to the crib," - @CJMcCollum can't wait for Friday's home playoff game! 🗣#oneNOLA pic.twitter.com/Xp9bdR42Lg

Watch Live: CJ McCollum#OneNOLA | @Verizon https://t.co/9PSkPn18x4

This is one of my favorite answers from a player in years. Well done, @Larrydn22. https://t.co/9GpHzh8Nn6

Larry: "Jaxson Hayes does some of the most ridiculous play" pic.twitter.com/qjVX4SS80j

"B.I. is H.I.M.," - @Larrydn22 pic.twitter.com/3l8FvBRm2e

Brandon Ingram goes off for 26 of his 37 points in the 2nd half as the @PelicansNBA tie the series! They head home for Game 3 on Friday at 9:30pm/et on ESPN. CJ McCollum: 23 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST Herb Jones: 14 PTS Jonas Valanciunas: 10 PTS, 13 REB pic.twitter.com/3w1X2US64n

"I will keep sayin' it: Win or loss, I think Brandon Ingram is the best player on the court," - @Larrydn22 pic.twitter.com/ftypBJwBkD

On the road since last Thursday, @PelicansNBA won a play-in game and a playoff game. That's good work, and we're goin home.

Watch Live: Larry Nance Jr.#OneNOLA | @Verizon https://t.co/HLO364tGDC

H.I.M. pic.twitter.com/VX6Zv9gFiz

What a night for @B_Ingram13 🔥#OneNOLA | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/Tp8N0d98rR

Willie Green on Brandon Ingram: "It was amazing, just to see him work. I just stopped calling plays and letting him call them."

Green gives credit to the players and the front office for bringing this group in pic.twitter.com/UvY3VteJ7m

Eighth-seeded #Pelicans take control in second half, make repeated clutch plays down the stretch to beat Suns 125-114 in Game 2, tie up first-round series. Brandon Ingram 37 pts, including 26 in the latter half. Postgame wrap: https://t.co/BkNuz3JxrI pic.twitter.com/txuHIo6y1p

NOLA, we’ve got a series…let’s ALL STAND UP!! 🔥🔥🔥

Tonight's @FanDuel Stat Line of the Game. pic.twitter.com/bpEX8rOOsf

Green on Ingram: "One of his best games and it was on the big stage." pic.twitter.com/FviaoXYcvz

Stats from tonight's dub ⤵️@B_Ingram13 37 pts, 13/21 FGM, 3/4 3PM, 11 reb, 9 ast@CJMcCollum 23 pts, 9 ast, 8 reb@_hoopinglife 14 pts, 5/8 FGM, 2/3 3PM, 3 ast@Larrydn22 13 pts, 6/9 FGM, 6 reb@JValanciunas 10 pts, 13 reb#OneNOLA | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/OSWjIMfHeM

Watch Live: Willie Green#OneNOLA | @Verizon https://t.co/sZqUxWC8PZ

TEAM EFFORT, TEAM WORK = TEAM WIN!! Let’s GO NOLA!! 🔥 See you Friday!!! @PelicansNBA #WBD #WH

😴😴😴 pic.twitter.com/fh9aVtNwQA

Game 5 vs New Orleans will officially be at @FootprintCNTR on April 26th. Tickets for Game 5 will go on sale tomorrow at 1PM. 📅 Mark your calendars and visit https://t.co/zi1z32XaRS for more information. pic.twitter.com/WVfiw3a6H8

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