Davis scores 34 to lead Pelicans past Suns
NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis scored a game-high 34 points, including six free throws in the final 67 seconds, and Jrue Holiday added 30 points and seven assists to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday night at the Smoothie King Center.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Pelicans (20-32) and sent the Suns (16-36) to their seventh loss in eight games.
The Suns were led by T.J. Warren with 20 points.
Leandro Barbosa scored six of the Suns' first 15 points of the fourth quarter to put Phoenix up, 89-84, with 5:47 left. The Suns held New Orleans scoreless for the first 3 1/2 minutes of the period, and the Pelicans scored only seven points in the first 6 1/2 minutes.
Davis hit a 3-pointer from the right corner and Holiday hit a layup and two free throws as New Orleans regained the lead, 94-93, with 4:12 left.
But Eric Bledsoe made two foul shots after being fouled on a jumper, P.J. Tucker made a back-door layup on a nice feed from Booker and Warren made a rebound follow as Phoenix took a 99-94 advantage with 2:57 remaining.
Then, just as suddenly, New Orleans ran off six consecutive points -- four by Holiday -- to go back in front 102-101 with 1:24 left. The go-ahead basket came on Holiday's spin move on Barbosa near the foul line, which led to an uncontested layup.
After Phoenix went back in front, 103-102, on Bledsoe's two foul shots, Holiday nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key and regained the lead, 105-103, at 1:04.
Booker missed a 3-pointer from the left corner, but Tyson Chandler grabbed the rebound and called timeout for Phoenix with 38.0 left.
The Suns used an 11-2 surge to take a 59-57 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Pelicans led 77-74 entering the final period.
The Pelicans led 47-42 at halftime behind 11 points by Davis, Holiday and Hield. The offensive output was especially timely for Hield, a rookie guard who had struggled from long range for the last month.
Hield made 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and that helped blunt a 16-3 Phoenix run in the second quarter, fueled by five New Orleans turnovers, that temporarily gave the Suns a 39-36 lead. But New Orleans closed the quarter on an 11-3 run.
Phoenix was led by Warren with eight points and by Booker with seven.
NOTES: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said he could not address rumored trade talks that had the 76ers sending backup C Jahlil Okafor to New Orleans for reserve C Alexis Ajinca and a future draft pick. "Obviously, I think at this time of the year, all the GMs are talking back and forth," Gentry said before the game. "I think with that situation right there, it's best that you ask (GM) Dell (Demps). ... F Anthony Davis is fighting through a sore right quad. ... Phoenix coach Earl Watson was still stunned by G Devon Booker's 27-point outburst in a 7:14 stretch of the second quarter in a loss to Milwaukee on Saturday night. "The first thing I thought about is I have zero to do with that -- zero," Watson said. "Just when I thought coaching was so difficult, you get lucky like that. It's like cheating -- like having a cheat code to a video game."