Finals MVP Ladder: Chris Paul maintains top spot after impressive Game 1 Breaking down the field for NBA Finals MVP with a ranking of the Top 5 candidates with Game 1 in the books. Michael C. Wright July 8, 2021 1:40 AM Chris Paul ignited the Suns in the 3rd quarter of Game 1, scoring 16 of his 32 to power Phoenix to a victory over the Bucks. PHOENIX — Call it small-man complex if you want, but the diminutive floor general leading the Phoenix Suns generated a gargantuan performance Tuesday night on the game’s grandest stage. Chris Paul controlled most of the action in Game 1 and snatched up whatever he wanted — from the midrange, out to 3-point-land — in scoring a game-high 32 points with nine rebounds in his NBA Finals debut to lead Phoenix to a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series.