Devin Booker scored 52 points, set his new regular-season record eight made 3s, and added nine assists to lead the Phoenix Suns (44-31) to a 124-111 win at the New Orleans Pelicans (45-30) on Monday.
Phoenix closed its five-game road trip 3-2, and leads New Orleans 2-0 in their three-game season series. Monday’s victory redeemed Phoenix’s 25-point loss at Oklahoma City on Friday.
The two others in Phoenix’s Big 3 had solid contributions as well. Kevin Durant had 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Bradley Beal had 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block, and hit 3-of-4 from the 3-point line.
New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III led their team with 30 and 21 points, respectively.
During the fourth quarter, the Suns missed 11 consecutive field goals as the Pelicans made an 8-0 run and cut the lead to seven with 2:46 left to play. But the Suns pulled away, including the dagger from deep by Beal with 35 seconds to play.
Phoenix’s next game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday will begin a four-game homestand, the Suns’ final four home games of the regular season.
Devin Booker (48 points) set a new individual regular season record on eight made 3s, eclipsing his previous mark of six, as Suns ended the third quarter with a 103-90 lead.
The Pelicans aren’t going away easily at home in the Big Easy, though.
After the Suns were up by 25 approaching the five-minute mark, the Pelicans went on an 11-1 run during the next two-plus minutes.
That New Orleans run was driven by Trey Murphy III, who scored nine of his team-high 21 points, and Zion Williamson put up nine of his 19 in the third. In addition, the Pelicans scored 10 off the Suns’ six turnovers in the period, and 15 total off the Suns’ 12 giveaways.
Devin Booker remained on fire with 37 points and Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 16 points in the second quarter to drive Phoenix’s 74-54 lead at the intermission.
Booker has shot a spectacular 14-of-19, made six 3s, and his 18th field goal extended Phoenix’s largest lead to 26 with 2:19 left in the half. His performance has broken a 9-of-26 shooting slump over the past two games, and he’s on track to match his 52-point outing in the Suns’ previous win in New Orleans on Jan. 19.
The Suns are outpacing the Pelicans, 10-2, in fast break points, hit an impressive 58.7% shooting overall, and rained 13-of-25 from the 3. However, Phoenix’s ongoing turnover issues seemingly crept into the second period, as they committed six after having none in the first.
The Pelicans have shot 41.7%, and 7-of-13 from deep.
Much of the first quarter was a back and forth scoring affair early, but Phoenix pulled away behind Devin Booker’s sizzling hand, building a 46-28 lead after the first.
Booker scored 24 points in the quarter, going 5 of 7 from 3.
Kevin Durant added 11 points, as Phoenix as a team shot 16 of 24 from the field (66 percent), including 9 of 14 from behind the arc (64 percent).
New Orleans was led by Trey Murphy III with 9 points. Zion Williamson was held to just 2 points in the quarter.
The Pelicans were 11 of 25 from the field (44 percent), including 6 of 11 from 3 (54 percent).
Starting lineups
The Suns are starting guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots, and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.
The Pelicans will open with CJ McCollum and Herb Jones in the backcourt, forwards Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson, and center Jonas Valanciunas.
Injury reports: Suns nearly full strength, Pelicans’ Ingram out
The only player listed on Phoenix’s injury report is Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery), who’s been out all season.
The Pelicans will be without Jose Alvarado (oblique) and Brandon Ingram (knee), their second-best scorer behind Zion Williamson, who’s been out for the past six games.