The Suns trailed throughout this one although they kept it reasonably close through three quarters. The energy seemed to be there but the shots just weren’t falling, especially for Devin Booker who scored only 12 points on 4 of 12 field goal attempts. Credit Jrue Holiday for playing very tight and tough defense on Booker tonight but Book also missed some wide open shots. Booker started off the game well with 7 points in the first quarter but was held scoreless in the second quarter and scored only 5 more in the second half.
T.J. Warren led the Suns with 25 points and Deandre Ayton had another double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Only Warren, Ayton and Booker scored in double figures for the Suns tonight.
For New Orleans, Anthony Davis had a rather pedestrian game (for him) with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Julius Randle also had a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Jrue Holiday fell just short of a DD of his own with 19 points and 9 assists.
The Suns actually won the turnover battle tonight 14 to 18 but committed 27 personal fouls to just 18 for NO. New Orleans also badly out-rebounded the Suns 54 to 37.
Poor shooting by the Suns was the icing on this bad cake though as the Suns hit only 40.7% of their field goals and 27.8% from three. New Orleans hit 48.8% and 44.0% from three.
1st Quarter
Pels win the tip and Randle puts NO up 2-0.
Suns fail to score but Warren strips Randle on the other end. Suns travel on offense and give the ball back t the Pels. Randle hits a 3. Pels up 5-0.
Suns yet to score. Now down 7-0.
Canaan finally breaks the ice but Pels quickly get it back. 9-2 Pels at the 9:00 mark.
Warren has two early fouls but also leads the Suns with 6 points. Josh Jackson checks in for him. Time called at 7:34 with NO leading 16-11.
Some defensive lapses by the Suns but the effort seems good.
Another lapse on D and the Pels lead 20-13.
Signs of life! Booker gets his first bucket and the Suns get a quick turnover by getting back quickly on D. 22-19 Pels at 4:03.
Holmes in for Ayton. Nice D by Holmes on AD but Suns are having a hard time getting it done on the offensive end. Ayton back in for Holmes. Okobo in for Canaan.
Ayton gets a quick 2nd foul. Davis makes 2 free throws and Pelicans now up by 10.
Only 2 turnovers for the Suns so far but the 9 fouls have hurt.
Jackson gets blocked and the Pels score on the other end.
Book hits a three to cut the Pelicans’ lead to 33-26 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Surprisingly, it’s the Pelicans that are turning the ball over rather than the Suns. Pels have 7 so far to only 2 for Phoenix.
Booker leads the Suns in scoring with 7, Randle leads NO with 11.
2nd Quarter
Warren now has 11 to lead the Suns. Pels up 40-31.
Bridges gets an easy layup! It’s about time the Suns get one instead of giving them up.
Nice defense by Okobo! He gets fouled and gets his first two at the line. Pels lead by 7 with 6:56 left in the half.
Warren and Canaan are the only Suns starters in the game along with Crawford, Bridges and Holmes.
Holmes commits his 3rd foul and Ayton checks back in. Pels up 48-39 with 5:03 remaining.
Ayton picks up his 3rd foul on Davis who hits 2 at the FT line. Suns down by 9. Booker back in.
NO back up by 11 as Suns call time. 13 team fouls for the Suns so far but turnovers are still low with only 4. NO has 8 TOs and 10 team fouls.
Warren hits a three and now has 16 points.
Pels now up 61-48 with 1:11 left in the half.
Warren hits another 3 and the Suns close the lead to 61-53 at the half.
At the Half
Only four turnovers for the Suns in the first half but fouls and poor shooting have hurt them. They shot 37.8% from the field and 23.5% from three. New Orleans has hit on 51.1% of their FG attempts and 33.3% from three.
The Suns have worked hard so far on D and have gotten 4 steals compared to 0 for the Pels.
T.J. Warren leads the Suns with 19 points and Deandre Ayton has 10 points and 8 rebounds. Isaiah Canaan has 5 assists. Anthony Davis leads the Pelicans with 18 points and 7 rebounds. Julius Randle has 13 points and 5 rebounds. Jrue Holiday has 9 points and 4 assists.
New Orleans is winning the team rebounding battle 27 to 20.
3rd Quarter
Pels score first but Ariza gets fouled on a three and gets 2 of 3 from the line.
66-58 Pels on a Canaan three.
Pelicans quickly go back up by 14 though. Kokoskov calls time at 8:35.
Booker still has only 7 points on 2 of 8 shooting. Holiday is playing him well on D.
Wes Johnson now has scored 2 more points then Devin Booker. Pelicans up by 15. Now 18.
This one seems to quickly be getting to get out of reach with 4:01 left in the quarter.
The Suns are going with “Point Book” now as they cut the lead down to 11.
That doesn’t last long as NO goes back up by 16 at 1:46.
The Suns haven’t given up though, they just aren’t hitting enough of their shots.
The Suns come up with a few stops and a few buckets to try and stay alive.
Wow! Book hits a loooooong shot from beyond halfcourt at the end of the quarter to cut the lead to 9!
91-82 Pelicans lead at the end of the 3rd quarter.
4th Quarter
Several misses to start the 4th by both teams.
Shots start dropping for the Pels and they are now up 100-84 with 8:37 to go. Time out Suns.
Booker has been out for the beginning of the quarter. It’s time for him to return.
The Suns are missing wide open shots... except for Warren. Booker gets an easy layup and the Suns cut the lead to 11, 100-89. 7:18 left to play.
Pels have gotten hot from three now, hitting 41.7% of their attempts. Suns only hitting 29.4% of their attempts. NO now up 111-93 with 3:38 left to play.
The Suns have conceded this game.
Pelicans win 119-99.