Things Get Chippy as Suns Come Out on Top Against Pelicans 123-114

It wasn’t just a basketball game in New Orleans on Saturday night; it was a test of wills, a physical grind, and eventually, a statement victory for the Suns.

Completing a back-to-back sweep in the NBA is never easy, especially on the road. Doing it while navigating ejections, scuffles, and furious fourth-quarter rallies is another beast entirely. Yet, that’s exactly what the Phoenix Suns managed to pull off, outlasting the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 in a contest that felt more like a playoff skirmish than a late December regular-season matchup.

While Devin Booker provided the steady hand the team needed down the stretch, this win was defined by grit, depth, and the ability to keep cool when the temperature in the arena hit a boiling point.

Suns Maintain Composure After Chippy Third Quarter

The narrative of this game shifted violently in the third quarter. What had been a competitive contest turned ugly when tensions boiled over between New Orleans’ Jose Alvarado and Phoenix’s Mark Williams. A hard screen led to words, which quickly escalated into punches thrown. Both players were promptly ejected, sending a jolt of electricity through the crowd and the opposing benches.

In moments like that, games often swing on emotion. The Pelicans, fueled by the home crowd’s frenzy and a desperate need to avoid a sweep, went on a 12-2 run that threatened to knock Phoenix off its axis. It would have been easy for the Suns to fold or lose their discipline. Instead, they leaned into the physicality. They didn’t retaliate with shoves; they retaliated with execution.

Depth Players Shine from Beyond the Arc

While the headlines often center on the stars, the Suns built their lead on the backs of their rotation players. The first half belonged to Collin Gillespie. In a shooting display that silenced the Smoothie King Center, Gillespie was unconscious from deep, draining all five of his three-point attempts in the first two quarters. He finished with 17 points, providing the spacing Phoenix desperately needed to operate inside.

But the real savior in the fourth quarter was Jamaree Bouyea. With the Pelicans clawing back, Bouyea erupted for 10 straight points, including a massive dunk and a clutch three-pointer that pushed the lead to 107-95. It was the kind of spark off the bench that championship contenders dream of—a role player stepping into the spotlight when the stars are catching their breath.

Dominating the Glass and Second Chances

If you want to know why Phoenix walked away with a win, look no further than the rebounding numbers. The Suns absolutely bullied New Orleans in the paint. The final rebounding tally was staggering: Phoenix grabbed 65 boards compared to New Orleans’ 47.

Even more demoralizing for the Pelicans was the disparity on the offensive glass. The Suns pulled down 17 offensive rebounds, generating countless extra possessions. Those boards translated into a 24-9 advantage in second-chance points. Every time New Orleans seemingly got a stop, a Phoenix jersey was there to clean up the mess and reset the offense. When you give a team that shoots 45% from three-point range that many second looks, you are asking for trouble.

Withstanding the Late Pelicans Surge

New Orleans didn’t go down quietly. Led by Trey Murphy III’s game-high 24 points and a spark from Zion Williamson off the bench, the Pelicans mounted a furious comeback. An 11-1 run late in the fourth sliced the deficit to a mere two points at 108-106. The momentum had fully swung, and the Suns were reeling.

That is, until Devin Booker decided enough was enough.

In true superstar fashion, Booker calmed the storm. He scored five points during a critical 7-0 run, including a dagger three-pointer and a smooth jumper that pushed the lead back to safety. Booker finished with a team-high 20 points, doing his damage when it mattered most to silence the rally.

Ultimately, this was a comprehensive team win. Six Suns players scored in double figures, they shot the lights out from deep (20-of-44), and they physically overwhelmed their opponents on the boards. Phoenix heads home having sent a clear message to the rest of the league: they can win pretty, but they are more than willing to win ugly, too.