Suns 116, Pelicans 104
Goran Dragic scored a career-high 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting as host Phoenix soared past New Orleans.
Markieff Morris scored 18 points and twin brother Marcus added 15 as the Suns halted a three-game losing streak. Dragic scored 13 final-quarter points and made three of Phoenix’s 10 3-point baskets.
Anthony Davis tied his career high of 32 points on 14-of-18 shooting and Eric Gordon added 21 points for the Pelicans, who lost their sixth straight game. Tyreke Evans tallied 14 points for New Orleans, which is 0-2 on a five-game road trip.
The Suns trailed by three early in the final quarter before Dragic scored seven points and Markieff Morris tallied six during a 17-1 surge that gave Phoenix a 105-92 lead with 4:33 remaining. New Orleans rallied to within 106-100 on Davis’ putback with 1:31 to play but Ish Smith drained a jumper 21 seconds later and the Suns held off the charge.
Phoenix led 56-54 at halftime but the Pelicans rattled off 13 straight points to take a 75-66 lead on Evans’ basket with 3:34 remaining. New Orleans had a 10-point edge 55 seconds later before the Suns closed the quarter with a 12-2 run to tie the score at 81.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Evans arrived at the arena about an hour before game time after getting stuck in an elevator at the team hotel. … Dragic’s previous career high of 35 points came last Sunday against the Houston Rockets and he was a game-time decision for this contest after sitting out Wednesday’s loss to Utah due to an ankle injury. … The Pelicans announced that PG Jrue Holiday underwent season-ending surgery on his broken right leg.