Brandon Ingram's playoff tear continues with 30 points in Game 4 to help New Orleans Pelicans tie series with Phoenix Suns

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is four games into the first playoff appearance of his six-year career — a fact his rookie teammate Jose Alvarado still can't believe.

«It don't seem like it,» Alvarado said when the subject was raised following Sunday night's Game 4. «He wants to win.»

It was another standout performance for Ingram, who finished with 30 points as the Pelicans defeated the top-seeded Phoenix Suns 118-103 to tie their Western Conference first-round playoff series at 2-2.

Ingram became the first player in Pelicans franchise history to score 30 points in three consecutive games, and joined Allen Iverson and LeBron James as the only players with three 30-point games in their first four career playoff games since the NBA-ABA merger (1976-77).

Also, Ingram's 119 points across his first four playoff games are the fifth-most by any player since the merger, behind only James (137), Anthony Davis (126), Luka Doncic (126) and Ja Morant (124).

«Brandon is playing some of his best basketball of the season,» Pelicans coach Willie Green said. «He's doing it on the biggest stage. It's great to see. He's capable. I've said it before, he's the real deal and he goes out on the floor and puts the work in at practice and we're seeing it on display.»

Like he did in Game 2, the Pelicans' other win in the series, Ingram started out with 11 first-quarter points. In the third quarter, he came out on fire again, knocking down 7 of 11 shots on his way to 16 points.

He didn't score in the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans didn't need him to. After Phoenix cut New Orleans' lead to 88-83 with 9:02 left, the Pelicans responded with a 12-0 run to take control.

«I feel it's our time,» Ingram said. «We work so hard