Davis scores 53, carries Pelicans past Suns for sixth straight win

It was not pretty. It was not easy. It was not going to get away.

The new look New Orleans Pelicans turned it on when needed to produce a 125-116 comeback win over Phoenix Monday night at Smoothie King Center.

New Orleans looked like a tired, disinterested team for much of the first half, falling behind by 15 points before cutting the deficit to 65-58 at the break.

Known for its disastrous third quarters virtually all season long, the Pelicans have now pieced together consecutive games in which they came through in huge fashion in the previously pathetic quarter, overcoming huge deficits at Milwaukee and against Phoenix. The Pelicans shot 70 percent from the field to outscore the Suns 38-24 in the period.

With MVP chants emanating from the stands, Anthony Davis was tremendous with 53 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. He went for more than 50 points for the third time in his career and for more than 40 points for the fourth time in the last six games. It was his seventh game with 40 or more points this season.

Davis scored 48 points in a 123-118 win over the Knicks in overtime at Madison Square Garden for his previous high this season. His career high is 59 points at Detroit on Feb. 21, 2016. He got to the free throw line a season high 26 times, sinking 21 against the Suns.

How good has Davis been?

Since the 1888-89 season, Davis now has 15 games with at least 40 points and 15 rebounds, second only to Shaquille O’Neal, who has 19 over that stretch. He has placed this team on his suddenly broader shoulders, averaging 41.5 points, 14 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 1.8 assists. He is shooting 55 percent from the field (89-for-162) and 82 percent from the free throw line (60-for-73).

Is Davis a legitimate MVP candidate?

Consider the fact that he is second in the league in scoring and blocks and eighth in rebounds, fifth in minutes played and 15th in field goal percentage. While James Harden is rightfully the favorite for the award, Davis is unquestionably in the top three with the season he is having. Harden leads the league in scoring and in 3-pointers made. He is also, very impressively, second in the NBA in assists.

Against the worst team and the worst defensive team in the league, New Orleans continued its torrid scoring pace with 125 more points. The Pelicans are averaging 127.8 points per game in their six-game win streak.

Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Alex Len all fouled out in the fourth quarter for the Suns, who played very hard, not like a team looking to tank.

This was a case of maturity for New Orleans. Good teams take care of business, regardless of circumstances. The Pelicans were a fatigued team, having gone overtime in Milwaukee on Sunday. It was not an easy task to fly home and play again the next night.

Good teams get it done.

Facing a team with the worst record in the league, New Orleans prevailed. Perhaps if they had faced a better team, the outcome would have been different. They did not. They won. They continue the streak, which is now at six straight victories, the first time the franchise has won six in a row since the 2010-11 season, a season where the New Orleans Hornets went to the second round of the playoffs. Could a similar fate be in the offing for the Pelicans?

Next up is a tough road test at San Antonio Wednesday. The Spurs are third in the Western Conference but just a game and a half clear of New Orleans in the tightly bunched playoff chase.

At 34-26, New Orleans has matched last year’s win total. With 22 games left, New Orleans is now in a virtual three-way tie for fifth place in the conference with Oklahoma City and Portland. While the talk is about possibly making the playoffs with a real shot at getting as high as third in the conference, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry was asked where he wants to be.

“Where we want to be is where Houston is,” said Gentry.