Field Level Media
Apr 6, 2019
Josh Jackson scored 35 points, including eight in overtime, as the host Phoenix Suns held off the New Orleans Pelicans 133-126 on Friday night.
Jamal Crawford added 28 points, Ray Spalding had a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds, Troy Daniels scored 14, and Dragan Bender had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who went 2-3 on a five-game homestand. Phoenix was without five key players, including guard Devin Booker, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a 118-97 home loss against Utah on Wednesday.
It was the second overtime win for Phoenix (19-61) over New Orleans (32-48) in three weeks. Jackson made a tying 3-pointer as the Suns scored five points in the final 2.2 seconds of the extra period in a 138-136 victory at New Orleans on March 16.
Julius Randle had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Ian Clark scored a season-high 24 points and Christian Wood scored 17 to lead the Pelicans. Elfrid Payton had 14 points and 12 assists, Cheick Diallo had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jahlil Okafor added 11 points as New Orleans lost for the 12th time in 14 games.
Phoenix scored the first four points of overtime and took command when Jackson's second 3-pointer of the period gave it a 129-121 lead with 1:23 left.
New Orleans had its highest-scoring first half of the season in taking a 76-65 halftime lead and built the margin to 15 twice in the third quarter. But Phoenix went on a 17-0 run to take an 86-84 lead, only for the Pelicans to recover and grab a 99-96 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Suns tied the score again at 101 before Randle's layup put the Pelicans back on top.
Jackson's 3-pointer pulled the Suns even at 115 with 2:39 remaining.
Randle made one of two free throws, but De'Anthony Melton's tip-in gave the Suns a 117-116 lead with 30 seconds left.
Randle missed two free throws, but Phoenix coach Igor Kokoskov was called for a technical for being on the court, and Clark made the technical field goal to tie the score with 22 seconds left.
Crawford missed a pull-up 3-pointer to send it to overtime.
--Field Level Media