That’s how you put in a championship-like performance, Phoenix. The New Orleans Pelicans utterly thrashed the Phoenix Suns in humiliating fashion, winning the game 128-117 to get revenge for their 1st round exit in last year’s playoffs.
If the Phoenix Suns wanted a lesson in how to put in a championship-worthy performance, they just got one from their new, budding rivals, the New Orleans Pelicans.
Still foaming from their 1st-round exit in the playoffs to this very Suns team, the New Orleans Pelicans showed no mercy to Phoenix as they ran up the score early and often. The Suns had literally no answers for the Pelicans offense as they were outscored heavily in two of the four quarters of the game, with the 3rd quarter seeing the Pelicans rack up a 10-point advantage on Phoenix.
Even with Chris Paul (24 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST) fully incorporated back in the lineup, the Suns struggled to match the offensive firepower of New Orleans. Or, as I really should say, the offensive firepower of Zion Williamson.
The former Duke star is back with a fury as he’s been nothing short of remarkable since the start of the regular season. Posting 35 PTS, 7 REB, and 4 AST, Zion Williamson was the difference maker that broke the Phoenix defense. Deandre Ayton and the rest of the Suns interior defenders were simply unable to contend with Williamson’s size and ferocity, allowing him to go off and set up his teammates for easy perimeter shots.
Nevertheless, the main factor that ruined the Suns chances of winning this game was the fact that they kept fouling New Orleans players on practically every single possession.
The Pelicans ended the game with 35 free throw attempts (28/35 made), while the Suns only had 13 of their own (9/13 made). There was no way the Suns were ever going to win a game in which they were not only undisciplined, but also against a team that was elite from the free throw line.
But that’s kind of the story of the Suns under the Chris Paul era. A very talented, yet undisciplined team that has constantly got smacked up by a better, disciplined side in the biggest of moments.
Hopefully Zion’s 360 windmill dunk at the end of the game lights a fire in those guys stomachs or else they are going to seriously struggle to get back atop the West. The Pelicans obviously proved they were the better team without Brandon Ingram even playing, while the Grizzlies are an extremely difficult team to contend with as Ja Morant continues to light up the NBA.
I’d like to think that Phoenix has the capability to overcome this recent slump, but I haven’t seen anything that would support that belief.
As for the Pelicans, this was a statement win. If they continue to play like that for the rest of the season, then this team will be extremely tough to beat in the playoffs. We may very well be witnessing the start of a dynasty out of New Orleans with how things are going for the franchise, which can only mean exciting times are ahead for all Pelicans fans.
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