PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns snapped a three-game losing streak with a commanding 125-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Bol Bol was instrumental in the Suns’ success, posting 25 points, just one point shy of his career-high mark. This victory came at a crucial time, as the Phoenix team had dropped seven of their previous eight games.
The Suns received significant contributions from Nick Richards, who secured 19 points along with 12 rebounds, the most in the game. Royce O’Neal proved valuable coming off the bench, adding 18 points, while both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant chipped in 17 points each for the Suns; Booker also dished out nine assists.
Despite winning against the Suns just the day before, the Pelicans struggled to replicate that success in this matchup, particularly without the talents of Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, who were sidelined for rest following recent injuries. Williamson had notably achieved his first career triple-double in the Pelicans’ prior 124-116 triumph over Phoenix.
Showcasing his potential, rookie Yves Missi matched his season-best performance by scoring 24 points for New Orleans, while teammate Jordan Hawkins also recorded 24 points. Meanwhile, the Suns had to make do without the services of Bradley Beal (left calf) and Grayson Allen (left foot) for this encounter.
In terms of team dynamics, the Pelicans welcomed back Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown to the court after the pair missed out on Thursday’s game. Olynyk scored 11 points and Brown netted 10. Antonio Reeves contributed 11 points and Trey Murphy III added 10, rounding out the top scorers for New Orleans.
The game saw the Suns leading by as much as 29 points, which provided a comfortable buffer despite the Pelicans’ strong 38-point push in the fourth quarter. A notable fact for Phoenix is their streak of allowing 100 or more points spans 17 games consecutively now.
In a standout moment early in the game, Bol’s dominant performance was clear as he scored 10 of the Suns’ first 20 points, helping Phoenix take an early 14-point advantage. The Suns cemented a commanding 40-18 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Adding to their woes, New Orleans matched its season-low in turnovers—a record they set the night before—completing six in the first quarter alone this game. The Pelicans ended the contest with a total of 15 turnovers.
Looking ahead, both teams will be in action again on Sunday. The Pelicans are set to face off against Utah, while the Suns will host Minnesota.
