Suns Handle Pelicans in Friday Night Victory
The Phoenix Suns are now 4-1 after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 124-111 on Friday night.
Both teams entered the night with a 3-1 record.
New Orleans, without Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram, surprisingly kept pace with Phoenix for majority of the game before the Suns eventually pulled away.
Prior to the game, Monty Williams spoke on the challenge playing against Williams presents:
"It is just an unreal phenomenon you are dealing with, that kind of size, quickness, and athleticism. The crowd thing is a big deal. If you give him a crack, he is one of those rare guys who knows how to not charge. He takes the right angle and goes right through people, but at a great angle," Williams said.
"He is just so quick off the floor that when he puts it up there, he can read his misses really well. A lot like Carmelo (Carmelo Anthony) used to, he can go right back up and grab it. Put it right back in the basket."
The Pelicans would miss their top draft pick, but expect to get him back later this weekend, potentially against the Clippers on Sunday.
Mikal Bridges paced the team with 27 points, also adding two rebounds, four assists, one steal and three blocks. Devin Booker notched a season-low 16 points and went 0-4 beyond the arc.
Deandre Ayton played just eight minutes before spraining his left ankle and not returning. The slack was picked up by the duo of Jock Landale and Bismack Biyombo, who each contributed in their own ways.
Biyombo, who played just seven minutes all season prior to Friday, finished with a strong statline of 11 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Landale contributed eight points and took tough fouls down the stretch of the third quarter in order to stop any Pelicans offensive momentum.
Per the team, Phoenix has accomplished the following with a win:
- The Suns move to 4-1 on the season, the second time in three years Phoenix has opened the season 4-1 (2020-21).
- The Suns move to 4-0 in the first five games against teams that qualified for the 2022 NBA postseason (including play-in games).
- The Suns pick up their ninth win over the Pelicans in the two team’s last 12 regular season meetings.
Phoenix outscored the Pelicans 60-36 in the paint while out-rebounding them 47-33 as well.
The Suns return to action on Sunday when the Houston Rockets come to town.
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