I told you this morning how Zach Lowe pointed out to me (and a million of my closest friends) that the Pelicans give you all the tries you want, and the key to a Suns victory is to take it and to make.
At the proposed TNT game, you gave the Phoenix Suns a TON of tries on Tuesday night to drive them to a standout victory over the Pelicans, 111-86.
The game on TNT enabled the Suns to show off their new The Valley jerseys and track, and they absolutely appeared on TV.
“I wish we could play in them all season,” Ayton later said with a big smile about the jerseys that stand for how they represent the valley and all the Suns fans. “It’s all love. All love. “
The Suns led 2 points after one quarter, 22 after two and 39 after three (100-61). They scored 17 of 38 tries in the first three quarters alone, but they also transgressed (32-26) and equalized more free throws (17-11) than the bubbling Pellies. All this through three quarters.
I only use three-quarter stats because for the first time this year, the fourth quarter simply didn’t matter. Not if you lead by 39 to 100-61.
Who was great for the Suns?
Jae Crowder had 21 points in 21 minutes to lead all scorers. Six different Suns scored in double digits and neither of them was called Booker or Paulus. Deandre Ayton put up 13 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes. No starter played more than 30 minutes in this one.
“For Chris and Devin not having to carry us is a good sign,” coach Monty Williams said. Chris Paul had 9 points and 9 assists. Devin Booker scored 9 points and 3 assists.
I’m sure Booker is a little confused about all this, since he’s had to be the one his whole career. But these days, Booker just needs to get out of the lightning double teams and let the rest of his guys blow the dudes out.
Mikal and the two Cams were amazing again. Mikal Bridges played a very good defense on Brandon Ingram while scoring 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Cameron Johnson took ten tries and scored 18 points, while also scoring 2 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. And Cam Payne scored 13 points and 7 assists. In this triumphant return, Dario Saric had 10 points and 4 rebounds.
“Watching Dario was really cool,” Williams said. “We expect him to play a few more games.”
The Suns are 3-1 for the first time since 2014. And their 48 total three-point attempts were a franchise record.
But do not get completely excited yet.
“We will not be happy on the farm four games,” coach Monty Williams said after the game. “You need a size of 20 games to know who you are.”
Game flow
After the first quarter of the nipper, the Pelicans-Suns game broke wide open to a difference of 22 points (66-44) at halftime. The Pelicans made 13 of 18 shots in the first quarter. Zion Williamson and Steven Adams made 11 of 12 shots at halftime, while the Phoenix Suns All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker only tried for two shots. TOTAL.
All these things are true.
You will therefore be surprised to find out that it was your PHOENIX SUNS with the halftime lead of 22 points. Yes, the Suns with the very cool alternative Valley Court and uniforms. The Suns with very good young talent. The Phoenix Suns with the point god, CP3.
The rest of the Suns scored 9 of 19 tries in the half, Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton who all scored 11+ and nine different Suns who were in the column. Once again, Cam Payne was sublime. Mikal Bridges was glorious. The ball bounced across the field, thanks in large part to Dario Saric’s first appearance as the team’s joiner. At halftime, Saric had 7 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal. The Suns won the second quarter 35-15.
The TNT guys, of course, talked about Zion Williamson at halftime. Big shock.
Any team will come out soft to start the second half after leading by 22 points … except for a team led by Chris Paul and Jae Crowder. Just like the start of the game, Paul and Crowder combined to help the Suns keep their foot on the gas pedal.
Soon the Suns were 79-47 ahead and the Pelicans called a timeout.
Seventy-nine to forty-seven.
I understand that these are things in the early season, and you can not place a permanent marker on a game like this. Remember the Suns were 5-2 a year before injuries and learning curves struggled to stay close to 0.500 the rest of the way. But it feels different. It feels sustainable.
After three quarters, the Suns were up 39. Halfway through the 4th it was still a 40 point lead.
Then we saw a closing series of Carter, E’Twaun Moore, Damian Jones, Frank Kaminsky and Ty-Shon Alexander. It was then that TNT cut away to another game.
THE SUNS BROWNED OUT THE PELICANES SO BADLY THAT TNT CUT AWAY TO A CLOSER GAME. The Kings, who had just beaten the Suns 13, put the Nuggets ahead 117-108 late in the fourth.
I’m happy.