Pelicans (3-11), Suns (7-6)
Two days after holding San Antonio to just 90 points in a nationally-televised victory, New Orleans won a shootout over Phoenix, posting a second straight home win. The Pelicans prevailed despite the Suns shooting a scorching 47 percent from three-point range (17/36) and answering every surge by the hosts with one of their own. New Orleans led by a modest margin after each of the first three quarters, then came up with a few more plays than Phoenix down the stretch to secure the win. It was tied at 109 with 1:13 remaining, but New Orleans scored nine of the game’s next 12 points. Anthony Davis made arguably the game’s most important basket, hitting a trey from near the top of the key with 54 seconds left.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Leading 122-116 with time winding down, Davis grabbed a defensive rebound after Phoenix tried to sink an off-balance three-pointer, then dribbled out the final seconds. It was Davis’ 19th rebound, a season high for the two-time All-Star and just two boards shy of his career high.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
With Phoenix center Tyson Chandler logging only 16 minutes and the Suns playing a lot of small ball, Davis capitalized on often being the tallest and most athletic big on the floor, piling up 32 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks. Davis had 18 rebounds two days earlier vs. San Antonio. The 22-year-old also came up with a key rejection of a corner Phoenix three-pointer in the final minute, helping turn back the Suns.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Ish Smith approached a triple-double by delivering 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He tied his career high in rebounding and continued to operate the New Orleans offense with proficiency (the Pelicans were plus-nine with Smith on the floor). Smith, who has struggled from the foul line in his NBA career at just 61 percent, also helped seal the victory by going 4-for-4 there in the final minutes.
QUOTES TO NOTE
“I feel like we’re all kind of getting in a rhythm, playing together and moving the ball. We’re moving the ball to find the right guys. They found me within this offense. We’re just getting it.” – Ryan Anderson (29 points, his fourth straight game of 20-plus) on the win and the Pelicans’ improved play
“This sounds crazy, because (Phoenix) scored 116 points, but I thought we did a good job defensively. They shot the three real well, but they shot less than 40 percent for the game.” – Alvin Gentry on the Pelicans’ defense, which held the Suns to 38.9 percent from the field
“(Ryan) and AD and everybody else makes it easy for me. All I’ve got to do is get them open and they’re going to knock it down.” – Smith, who entered Sunday sixth in the NBA in assists, on his eight assists vs. Phoenix
BY THE NUMBERS
18/54: Phoenix shooting from two-point range. The Suns were much better on threes (17/36). Davis blocked four of the Suns’ misses, including one three-point try.
12/33: Combined shooting from the field by Phoenix’s quick backcourt of Eric Bledsoe (7/15) and Brandon Knight (5/18), a big defensive emphasis for New Orleans.
100: New Orleans percentage from the foul line in the fourth quarter, making all of its 15 attempts.
