Game Recap: The Pelicans end their 9-game losing streak with a 126-124 win over the Suns

The Phoenix Suns lose to the New Orleans Pelicans 126-124.

Thanks to the dominant performance of Brandon Ingram, who scored 21 of the Pelicans’ 45 points in the third quarter, they erased the Suns’ 13-point lead in the first half and took a 10-point lead. It seemed like the game was slipping away from the Suns, but with key contributions from Bol Bol, Grayson Allen and Monte Morris, the Suns managed to tie the game again early in the fourth quarter.

With Royce O’Neale starting in place of Kevin Durant, he came up big for the Suns, shooting the ball and scoring 19 points. His five quick points helped the Suns cut the Pelicans’ lead to just one point, keeping them within striking distance and giving the team a much-needed boost.

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 52 points, but with 17 turnovers and Ingram’s 29 points, it was too much for the Suns to overcome and left town with a loss.

Game flow

First half

Devin Booker took on the Pelicans almost single-handedly. He hit a few three-pointers early in the game to keep the ball close, but he received little help from his teammates in the first five minutes. The Suns trailed 15-8 before the first timeout, with Booker showing his frustration and waiting for calls from the referees. It was clear from the start that Booker was determined to do whatever it took to win tonight’s game. You could see his intensity from the start.

Royce O’Neale and Bradley Beal made a couple of three-point plays to save Devin Booker, who was still blaming the referees and his teammates. Whatever Booker said seemed to spark something as the Suns began capitalizing on the Pelicans’ aggressive defense, which included doubles and jumping out of passing lanes. The Suns started with three shots, and when Josh Okogie entered the game with five minutes left in the first quarter, he effectively attacked the rim like he does best, helping the Suns take their first lead of the game, 22-19.

Josh Okogie brought relentless energy from the five-minute mark until the end of the first quarter. He gave Booker much-needed support by pushing his way to the rim, grabbing offensive rebounds and causing havoc on the court. Despite his efforts, the Pelicans fought back and regained the lead, taking a 34-33 lead. Booker finished the first quarter with an impressive 15 points.

The second quarter began with a strange but exciting twist as Bol Bol returned to the rotation. His ability to drive the floor from edge to edge kept the Suns playing at a lively pace. Bol was active on the glass and caught almost every ball near him.

It was great to see Bol hit the midrange again!

There was a moment of concern, however, when Beal twisted his ankle again but opted to stay in the game.

Meanwhile, Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen kept the offense alive by knocking down threes, helping the Suns build an eight-point lead by the six-minute mark of the quarter.

Despite this success, the offense felt strangely out of sync at times. Still, the Suns managed to capitalize, making eight of their first 11 shots from the field to maintain control.

The Suns extended their lead to 13 points thanks to Bradley Beal, who played great minutes off the bench. Even after Devin Booker returned to the game, he continued to knock down shots. Beal finished the first half with 14 points while the Suns shot an impressive 47% from long range. That strong performance gave them a comfortable 11-point lead at halftime, leading the Pelicans 65-54.

Second half

There was tension in the third quarter, both on the field and in the stands. Fans heckled Bradley Beal and shouted in his ear as he attempted a three-pointer, while coach Mike Budenholzer received a technical foul for vehemently advocating a decision in favor of Devin Booker.

The Pelicans responded to the intensity by stepping up their game and cutting the Suns’ lead to just one point with five minutes left in the quarter. Booker tried to answer but struggled to find his rhythm and missed key shots as the Pelicans mounted their comeback.

Although Oso Ighodaro made his presence known with a powerful dunk in the middle of the lane, the Pelicans refused to back down and responded with a barrage of three-pointers. They started the third quarter red hot, shooting 5 of 7 from long range. Brandon Ingram led the offense and scored a team-high 13 points with two minutes left in the quarter, keeping the Pelicans firmly in the game.

The tension in the arena reached its peak as Brandon Ingram continued to dominate, carrying the Pelicans through the remainder of the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Suns and Devin Booker struggled greatly from beyond the arc and were unable to find their rhythm. Ingram finished the quarter with an impressive 21 points, electrifying the crowd and leaving every fan on their toes. The Pelicans took advantage of the momentum and took a 99-93 lead in the fourth quarter.

After an explosive third quarter in which the Pelicans dropped 45 points, the pace slowed early in the fourth quarter. This gave the Suns a chance to regroup, with Bradley Beal hitting a crucial three-pointer with nine minutes left to tie the game at 101. The Suns’ bench had put up 33 points at that point – mostly from first-half contributions – proving crucial in keeping the team within striking distance. Just when the game seemed to be slipping away, the bench unit rallied to keep the Suns alive and even the score.

And Bol also tried a little harder to start the fourth.

However, with Bol possibly handling the ball a little too much, resulting in turnovers, the Suns quickly fell behind without even facing Ingram on the court. To make matters worse, the Suns started 1 of 6 from three balls, with their shots off target and forced at times, further hindering their efforts to regain control of the game.

Royce O’Neale took matters into his own hands, scoring five quick points to cut the Pelicans’ lead to just one after five minutes. His outstanding performance gave the Suns a spark when they needed it most.

But that wasn’t enough, as the Suns failed at three-point shooting, hitting just 30% of their shots in the fourth quarter, and ultimately lost to the Pelicans 126-124, with Booker unable to make a final shot. to win the game Expired.

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This was the easiest part of the road trip. On Saturday we go to Miami to play the Heat.