Phoenix Suns' Monty Williams says free throw disparity in Game 4 loss to New Orleans Pelicans something 'you have to look at'

NEW ORLEANS — Normally low-key by design, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams had cutting remarks about the officiating after the New Orleans Pelicans took Game 4 on Sunday to even the first-round series at 2-2.

The Pelicans shot 42 free throws to the Suns' 15 and it was a 17-2 disparity in the first half. The Suns were called for 12 more fouls in what was a classic physical playoff game.

«You can slice it any way you want to. In a playoff game that physical, (the disparity) is amazing,» Williams said. «Coaches shouldn't have to come up to the microphone and feel like they're going to get their heads cut off for speaking the truth.»

It was in the Pelicans' game plan to test the Suns' interior, and Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas combined to shoot 21 free throws. Ingram finished with 30 points, the first Pelicans player in team history to score 30 or more in three consecutive playoff games. Valanciunas rebounded from a poor showing in Game 3 to put up 26 points with 15 rebounds.

The Pelicans took 46 shots in the paint but the Suns took 41 themselves. Chris Paul didn't go to the line after going 14 times the first three games. He went scoreless in the fourth quarter, where he had been dominate in the series, and tied his career playoff low with just 4 points.

«It's not like we don't attack the basket,» Williams said. «They outplayed us, they deserve to win. That's a free throw disparity that you have to look at… it's hard swallow.»

Said Paul: «It's like the old NBA, isn't it? I asked one of the refs one time 'are we playing in the old NBA or the new NBA?' I was fortunate enough to play in both of them, we just have to figure out which one it's going to be.»

Pelicans coach Willie Green said his team had the mindset of