Devin Booker scored 20 points, including two clutch jumpers down the stretch, and the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 for a two-game sweep of…<\/p>\n
NEW ORLEANS(AP) \u2014 Devin Booker scored 20 points, including two clutch jumpers down the stretch, and the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 on Saturday night for a two-game sweep of their back-to-back set.<\/p>\n
Booker led seven Suns in double figures. Dillon Brooks had 18 points, Collin Gillespie scored 17, Jordan Goodwin added 16 and Royce O\u2019Neale finished with 15.<\/p>\n
Trey Muphy III had 24 points for the Pelicans, and Zion Williamson scored 22 off the bench on 8-of-11 shooting. Rookie center Derik Queen had 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Jeremiah Fears scored 18 and Saddiq Bey finished with 17.<\/p>\n
The game got chippy in the third quarter after New Orleans went on a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 73-71. Following a whistle, Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and Phoenix center Mark Williams exchanged punches.<\/a> Both were ejected.<\/p>\n The two tangled after the 7-foot-1 Williams set a ball screen on the 6-foot Alvarado, who pushed Williams out of the way. After the whistle, Williams shoved Alvarado in the back, and a fight ensued.<\/p>\n With the Suns resting their starters early in the fourth quarter, Jamaree Bouyea scored 10 straight points, capped by a 3-pointer from the right baseline, to give Phoenix a 107-95 lead with 7:01 left.<\/p>\n The Pelicans used an 11-1 spurt, capped by Williamson\u2019s two free throws, to pull to 108-106. But the Suns answered with seven straight points \u2014 five by Booker \u2014 to regain control. <\/p>\n Bouyea finished with 12 points and Williams had 10.<\/p>\n Just as they did in their 115-108 victory over New Orlewans on Friday night, the Suns dominated the boards, especially in the first half when they built a 65-55 lead. Phoenix outrebounded New Orleans 36-20, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to a 24-9 edge in second-chance points.<\/p>\n Gillespie made all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half \u2014 four in a four-minute span of the second quarter.<\/p>\n Phoenix finished 20 of 44 from long range after going 8 of 40 on Friday.<\/p>\n
Suns: Visit the Washington Wizards on Monday night.<\/p>\n Pelicans: Host the New York Knicks on Monday night.<\/p>\n
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