Tuesday’s assignment of trying to defeat the NBA’s best team was already difficult enough for New Orleans, but then Phoenix came out hitting three-point buckets at an elite clip. The Pelicans made matters even tougher on themselves by turning the ball over at a rapid rate.
After a competitive game for three-plus quarters, Phoenix eventually put the outcome out of reach with a fourth-quarter surge. The Suns turned a 10-point lead into a runaway by continuing to drain perimeter shots, going up by 20 halfway through the fourth quarter. Phoenix finished 18/34 on three-pointers and shot 55 percent from the field.