The New Orleans Pelicans celebrated a triumphant return to form on Thursday night, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 126-124, in a game marked by spirited defense, timely shooting, and the return of key players. Brandon Ingram led the way with 29 points after missing five games, while Herb Jones, back from an extended absence, rose to the occasion with a clutch block on Devin Booker’s last-second shot. Jones’ defensive heroics, coupled with his timely corner three and late-game steal, helped the Pelicans swing the momentum as they rallied from an early deficit.
With five of their top six rotation players finally together on the floor, the Pelicans looked revitalized, snapping their nine-game losing streak and reasserting themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Offensively, the Pelicans relied on balanced scoring and sharp perimeter shooting, particularly in a third quarter that saw them drill seven of nine attempts from beyond the arc. CJ McCollum added 25 points and orchestrated crucial plays down the stretch, assisting on a Trey Murphy alley-oop dunk that gave New Orleans breathing room late.
Yves Missi’s 12 rebounds anchored the interior, helping offset a Phoenix offense that nearly overcame the absences of Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic. With this much-needed win, the Pelicans head into Saturday’s matchup against Oklahoma City with renewed confidence, illustrating that when healthy and clicking, this is a squad capable of weathering the storm and rising above the competition.
