Zion Powers Pelicans Past Suns

It was the Zion Williamson show as the Phoenix Suns fell to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mar 28, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) brings / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX -- It was the Zion Williamson show, and everybody was invited.

The Phoenix Suns fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in 113-105 fashion on Sunday, stopping a three-game Suns winning streak and preventing Phoenix from a series sweep.

Despite the loss, Phoenix retains possession of the No. 6 seed out West.

After Devin Booker scored 50+ points against New Orleans in his last three outings, the Pelicans made an obvious effort to be more physical against the All-Star guard this time around:

“We are digging deeper to take his opportunities away. He torched us the last few games. We have to switch the coverages up on him," New Orleans coach Willie Green said prior to the matchup.

New Orleans was led by one of Williamson's best games this season (29 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks) while CJ McCollum led New Orleans in scoring with 31.

Bradley Beal paced Phoenix with 33 points, notching his first 30-point game in 16 outings.

The Suns' bench was outscored 34-7 on Sunday.

Phoenix appeared destined to another win after a strong opening quarter of play, where the Suns led 26-19 after forcing six Pelicans turnovers. Every Phoenix starter had scored, though Jusuf Nurkic temporarily exited action with what appeared to be a lower leg injury after dealing with calf soreness earlier in the week.

The Pelicans eventually found their rhythm from three-point land, going on a 12-0 run in the mid-second to regain the lead. New Orleans led 56-50 heading into the locker room thanks to 21 McCollum points and Jose Alvarado shooting 4-5 from three-point land, talking some trash along the way.

After a back-and-forth third quarter that saw New Orleans' lead dip into the double digits before Phoenix drew it to two, the Pelicans took a 90-83 lead into the final quarter of play. Dyson Daniels (10) and Kevin Durant (12) led their respective squads in scoring in the third.

After Nurkic picked a Pelicans pocket a mid-court, an on-fire Beal hit a transition three to see the Suns gain their first lead in some time halfway through the fourth.

As the two teams exchanged blows with time winding down, Grayson Allen -very uncharacteristic of him - missed a number of open looks while the Pelicans regained the lead. The dagger for New Orleans ultimately came with Williamson charging through a crowded lane with a tough left-handed finish, putting New Orleans up by six with under 20 seconds remaining.

Phoenix is back in action on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.