National Basketball Association
New Orleans 113, Phoenix 105
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 7, 2024
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Officials: #58 Josh Tiven, #45 Brian Forte, #35 Jason Goldenberg
Attendance: 17071

Zion Williamson had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and the visiting New Orleans Pelicans ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Phoenix Suns 113-105 on Sunday.

Williamson was returning from a one-game absence due to a finger contusion as the Pelicans (46-32) won for just the second time in their last seven games. CJ McCollum scored a team-high 31 points, followed by 15 from Jose Alvarado, who was returning from a five-game absence due to an oblique strain. Trey Murphy III had 13 points and Dyson Daniels 10.

Bradley Beal scored 33 points to lead the Suns. Devin Booker had 25 points and seven assists, Kevin Durant added 23 points and Grayson Allen had 11 for sixth-place Phoenix (46-32), which saw its three-game winning streak end but remained ahead of New Orleans because it won the season series 2-1.

McCollum made a 3-pointer and assisted on Larry Nance Jr.'s three-point play to start the third-quarter scoring and give New Orleans a 62-50 lead.

Booker converted a three-point play for the Suns' first points of the quarter, and he later made two free throws to pull them within 77-75. They got within two a second time before Williamson scored six points to help the Pelicans build a 90-83 lead at the end of the period.

Alvarado made a 3-pointer to start the fourth-quarter scoring, before Beal scored Phoenix's first 13 points of the period and gave Phoenix a 96-95 lead with 7:50 left in the game. Williamson made four baskets to help New Orleans regain a six-point lead.

The Suns got within four, but Williamson scored on a drive for 111-105 lead with 29 seconds left.

The Pelicans made just four field goals during the first nine-plus minutes as the Suns opened a 20-8 lead. McCollum had eight points and an assist and New Orleans trimmed the lead to 26-19 at the end of the first quarter.

Murphy scored five points during a 10-0 run that pulled the Pelicans even at 36 early in the second quarter. McCollum scored eight points and Alvarado made two 3-pointers to help the Pelicans open a 56-50 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
New Orleans   Phoenix
CJ McCollum 31 Scoring Bradley Beal 33
Larry Nance Jr. 7 Assists Devin Booker 7
Zion Williamson 10 Rebounds Jusuf Nurkic 10
Zion Williamson 7 Free Throws Made Devin Booker 7
Larry Nance Jr. 3 Steals Jusuf Nurkic 3
Zion Williamson 5 Blocks Grayson Allen 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Orleans 113 47.1 16-39 17-19 26 42 7 8 14
Phoenix 105 44.8 14-39 13-14 30 38 8 7 16
Upcoming Games
  • Phoenix will play their next game at home against L.A. Clippers. The Suns have a W/L % of .574 after a win and .613 after a loss.
  • New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Portland. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .565 after a win and .625 after a loss.