:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/4BOZK2S5CVBBLCK2LANFW344YI.jpg "Devin Booker hits 52 and the Suns defeat the Pelicans 124-111")
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Devin Booker scored 52 points, the fifth-highest game of his career, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 victory over New Orleans on Monday night, leaving them one game behind. away from the Pelicans for the sixth playoff position in the Western Conference.
Bouncing back from a 128-103 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night, the Suns (44-31) moved closer to New Orleans (45-30). They will meet again on Sunday in Phoenix.
Kevin Durant contributed 20 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 19 for the Suns, who led by as many as 25 in the third quarter. New Orleans closed the deficit with a 20-8 run to open the fourth quarter 103-90.
The Pelicans got closer to 115-108 with a three-pointer by CJ McCollum, but Booker iced the game with a pair of baskets in a span of 36 seconds in the last two minutes.
Booker’s first 24 points came on just nine field goals in the first quarter: he was 8 of 9 from behind the arc. His 3-pointer with 1:17 left in the first quarter actually gave him two more points than the entire New Orleans team as the Suns took a 46-22 lead.