The Phoenix Suns welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans at Footprint Center Thursday night.
Both the Pelicans and Suns were on the outside looking in when it came to the playoffs.
The Suns (27-31) were three games behind the Sacramento Kings, the last team in the play-ins, the Pelicans (15-43), were 15 games behind.
With only 24 games left for both teams, Thursday was a must win game for Phoenix, as New Orleans were all but out.
Pelicans were without many key role-players, including Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture) who averaged 17.5 PPG (points per game).
They were also down starter Kelly Olynyk (rest).
The Suns were dealing with few injuries, although shooting guard Bradley Beal was labeled as GTD (Game-Time Decision), as he dealt with left calf tightness.
However, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said that Beal would not play.
“Yeah, so he is out tonight,” Budenholzer told reporters before the game. “I don’t think there was one thing-in the course of an NBA game— you take a lot of hits; a lot of things happen; he left a lot out there on the court, put a lot of time in. I don’t think it was one incident, just physical game and the wear and tear of the game, and his calf had some tightness.”
Tyus Jones would replace the injured Beal in the lineup to start.
The Suns were looking to keep their playoff chances alive and well, and possibly start a winning streak.
The Pelicans still had many key players, as CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, and big man Zion Williamson were all putting 20 PPG.
It wouldn’t be easy, as the Suns had little momentum, winning only one of their last seven games, and without Bradley Beal.
The Suns were also hoping for players such as Bol Bol to step up, following the trade of center Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets.
“I think it’s the work that’s been going on every day,” Budenholzer said before the game.
“Now I think Bol and Coach Fizz (Suns assistant coach David Fizdale) they’re enjoying the work they’ve put in, Fizz adds great energy, toughness, and I think Bol apricates him. It’s this league, you’re probably going to get a chance at some point and Bol’s taken advantage of it.”
Before the game, all seats were given a free “30K” shirt, in honor of Suns player Kevin Durant becoming the eighth player to hit 30,000 career points in NBA history.
The Pelicans had a five-point lead heading into the second quarter, but Phoenix had shown that they were there to win.
Phoenix had gotten into a groove of distributing the ball, with all starters having an assist or more at the end of the first but struggled to lockdown Murphy, as he had 14 points in the first quarter alone, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Halfway through the second half, the Suns found themselves down by 18, as the Pelicans went on a 13-0 run to start the second quarter.
“That’s been the story of the season thus far,” Devin Booker said. “It could be fixed with just a little more talking. Things get tough, we get quiet as a team and… from my experience and what I’ve seen, that’s not the way to get through. I’d rather… two people say the wrong thing than nobody talk at all.”
Most teams would be rattled, or hesitant to do anything after that, but Phoenix proved their worth, as they started chipping away at that lead.
By halftime, the Suns had not only comeback from an 18-point deficit, but took the lead, up by one after the first half.
Entering the fourth, Phoenix was leading 91-88, as the Pelicans were breathing down their neck.
Booker had been a consistent player, putting up 25 points, shooting 50% overall, and from three-point range.
Durant was key in scoring in the paint, at 22 points.
The Pelicans had no one break 20 points before the fourth, and Murphy was locked out of the game, only putting up four points after the first quarter.
With five minutes left in the game, the Pelicans led by seven, but both the players and fans weren’t going down without a fight.
In the end, the Pelicans would hold on, winning 124-116 thanks to a monster 4th quarter from Zion Williamson.
“The ability to get downhill, the ability to finish,” Budenholzer said. “His touch around the rim…you got him at the rim and they shot it well. It’s a tough combination.”
Durant had a respectable game, putting up 28 points, while Booker had 36 points and nine assists, as he shot 13-for-29 from the field.
Booker didn’t seem pleased with the loss.
“Skipping over the details,” Booker said. “Get them next game mentality…at some point you got to draw the line and, should’ve been drawn a long time ago. I always look at myself first- but I also talked a lot.”
Bol had a quiet game, but Nick Richards of the Suns stepped up in the rebound column, grabbing 16 from the board.
Jones had a respectable game, grabbing 15 points, and leading the team in assists with 12.
“I thought he was good,” Budenholzer said regarding Jones. “He’s such a pro, he’s ready- did a lot of things, I think the way he shot the ball, off the shifts, was good…so credit to Tyus.”
However, it was Williamson of the Pelicans who walked away with a triple-double, as he grabbed 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
“He’s a force,” Budenholzer said about Williamson.
Phoenix’s chance at the playoffs slimmed after the loss.
“Yeah, no, we haven’t played well enough,” Budenholzer said. “We’ve had stretches where we haven’t executed offensively or defensively…we haven’t been good enough to get us through. If was there was one thing, but it’s always small things, too many to list.”
The Suns and Pelicans face off again on Friday at Footprint Center.
