PHOENIX — On Friday night, the Phoenix Suns halted their three-game losing streak by toppling the New Orleans Pelicans 125-108, in a game where Bol Bol shined brightly, scoring 25 points—just one point short of his personal best.
Nick Richards contributed significantly to the Suns’ success with 19 points and dominated the boards with a game-high 12 rebounds. Royce O’Neal came off the bench to add 18 points, while Devin Booker supported with 17 points and nine assists. Kevin Durant also contributed 17 points, reinforcing the Suns’ offensive flow.
In contrast, the Pelicans, who had previously defeated the Suns, were missing key players Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. They were both given a break after coming back from earlier injuries. Williamson had only just achieved his first career triple-double with New Orleans’ 124-116 win.
New Orleans’ roster saw some bright spots even without their stars, with rookie Yves Missi and Jordan Hawkins both notching 24 points each, matching Missi’s top performance of the season.
Phoenix faced its own challenges, playing without Bradley Beal due to a left calf injury, and Grayson Allen who was sidelined with a left foot ailment.
Insights gathered from the game reflect how the Pelicans saw Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown return to action, contributing 11 and 10 points respectively, after missing Thursday’s match. Antonio Reeves and Trey Murphy III also hit double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points for New Orleans.
The Suns managed to establish a strong lead, at one point stretching to 29 points, despite the Pelicans’ energetic 38-point surge in the fourth quarter. This game marked the 17th consecutive instance where the Suns allowed their opponents to score over 100 points.
A pivotal point in the game was Bol’s electrifying start, netting 10 of the Suns’ initial 20 points, helping Phoenix secure a 14-point lead early on. By the end of the first quarter, the Suns were well in control, leading 40-18.
One critical statistic from the match was the Pelicans’ trouble with turnovers. After only six in their previous win on Thursday, they already matched that number by the end of the first quarter on Friday, ultimately tallying up to 15 by the end of the game.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Sunday. The New Orleans Pelicans will head to Utah, while the Phoenix Suns will host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
