Few players are playing better basketball these days than Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.
Over his last five games, Booker has averaged 28.2 points on 49.5% shooting, along with six assists and four rebounds per game. That includes a 30-point, nine-rebound, five-assist performance in the Suns’ 115-108 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Booker and the Suns will look to continue their momentum when they visit the Pelicans on Saturday in the second game of a back-to-back set.
“It’s a must-win for us,” Booker said of Friday’s contest. “Start the road trip off right. We want to start off on a good note. We’re coming back at it (Saturday) against them. We know they’ve been playing good basketball right now. It was a competitive game, and that’s what we can expect (Saturday).”
Booker scored 12 points in the fourth quarter Friday and played a pivotal role in ending the Suns’ game on an 18-8 run.
Mark Williams and Connor Gillespie also played key roles for Phoenix. Williams finished with 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Gillespie chipped in with 16 points and nine assists.
Williams added 13 rebounds, giving him his first double-double in nine games this month.
The Suns had 16 offensive rebounds against the Pelicans, consistently going on extra possessions.
“I thought we made some big stops down the stretch,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “And then Book and Collin made some plays on the offensive end to get out of it somehow.”
Zion Williamson led the way for the Pelicans with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes off the bench as the Pelicans lost their second straight game after winning five straight.
Williamson, who has dealt with several injuries over the years, often didn’t play in back-to-back games, but he pulled double duty earlier this week when the Pelicans faced the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The two-time All-Star had started every game during his six-year NBA career until this month. Upon his return on December 14 following a right adductor strain that kept him out for six games, Williamson was moved to the bench to limit his workload.
In six games, Williamson is averaging 21 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists, although he has never played more than 28 minutes. He has led the team in scoring in each of the last four games.
With Williamson leading the way, the Pelicans bench scored 60 points on Friday. However, if New Orleans wants to earn a share in the doubleheader, it will require better execution late in the game.
“We put ourselves in a good position,” Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego said. “We didn’t make enough plays. We didn’t make free throws or make shots. We could have been better down the stretch.”
Neither team found distance from long range on Friday, with each making 20 percent of their 3-point attempts. Phoenix finished 8 of 40 and New Orleans 5 of 25.
–Field level media
