Despite a thunderous start from Devin Booker who scored 10 points in the first five minutes, 25 points from the McCollum – Valanciunas pair allowed the Pelicans to pass a 28-9 to their opponents to cool the Footprint Center (39-27).
The Pelicans defense confirms and raises the tone to limit Phoenix to 6/20 on shots in the second period. The Suns cling thanks to Booker but he alone cannot prevent the gap from increasing. If McCollum continues his festival, Zion Williamson follows suit just like the substitutes to put New Orleans at +17 at the break (63-46).
The address of McCollum and Herb Jones increases the lead of the Pelicans to 24 points (83-59)! But the Suns do not fold, and Chris Paul and Damion Lee light the first fuse. Then Devin Booker pulls out the big game by signing Phoenix’s last 12 points in the quarter, which allows the Suns to inflict a 25-6 on standing KO Pelicans to restart the match (89-84)!
Incandescent, Booker continues with the first eleven points of his team to start the last period and bring his team to equality (99-99)! It was Zion Williamson who then took responsibility by scoring 11 points to face Booker but a 3-pointer from Chris Paul put the Suns in front of the score for the first time since the first minutes (107-105). The Pelicans will not recover and the Suns will seek their best victory of the season. The rivalry between the two teams continues to grow!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Pelicans defense is suffocating the Suns. If Devin Booker finished the first half with 22 points on more than 60% shooting success, his teammates did not experience the same success. The Pelicans closed off the circle and quickly came out on Arizona’s shooters to force them to take hard shots. With the exception of Booker, Monty Williams’ men returned to the locker room 8/31 on shots, including 3 of 18 from three points.
– Devin Booker refused to lose. With his team at -24 despite a superb first half, Booker went into super saiyan mode to turn the tide. He scored 23 straight points straddling the third and fourth quarters to knock out the Pelicans, all with disconcerting ease and efficiency. Booker indeed scored 36 points in the second half on 61% shooting success. More than the numbers, it was his determination that burst the screen!
– Brandon Ingram and DeAndre Ayton still in the infirmary. The Pelicans winger has been out for more than a month with a big toe injury in his left foot. The Pelicans have however announced that their All Star will be re-evaluated in a week. His return will therefore come as a Christmas present. On the Suns side, pivot DeAndre Ayton missed his second game in a row because of a sprained left ankle that occurred earlier in the week against Houston.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Devin Booker. 58 points, 21/35 on shots, including 36 in the second half, Booker was simply incredible to allow his team to pass a 59-31 to the Pelicans in the last 18 minutes!
✅ Zion Williamson. Zion played him the reverse game of McCollum, ramping up in the second half. He scored 18 of his 30 points in the final quarter but couldn’t prevent the Suns’ devastating comeback. He also delivered 9 assists.
✅ Chris Paul. The Suns point guard was sober and fair tonight: 18 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. As a young graduate, he scored seven decisive points at the end of the match.
✅ ⛔CJ McCollum. The Pelicans leader went from unstoppable in the first half (24 points to 10/13 on shots, and 6 assists) to transparent in the second (3 points to 1/7 and 2 assists).
⛔ The Suns bench. With the exception of three monstrous offensive rebounds from Josh Okogie in the last quarter, Phoenix substitutes have scored only 16 points, including 11 from free throws.
THE FOLLOWING
Phoenix (18-12) : the Suns receive the Lakers on Monday.
New Orleans (18-11): the Pelicans receive the Bucks on Monday.
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