Pelicans with backs to the wall after loss at Suns in Game 5

In the history of the NBA playoffs, the team that has won game five in a best-of-seven series has gone on to win the series 82 percent of the time.

The Phoenix Suns, who played in the NBA Finals a year ago, understood the magnitude of the game and came out with a purpose and noticeably more energy than the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night.

The result was predictable as the Suns never trailed in a convincing 112-97 win over the Pelicans.

It was a dominant performance by the Suns, who never trailed in the game.

The Pelicans got even at 8-8 early on and spent the rest of the night behind, looking up at the Suns.

DeAndre Ayton scored the first six points for Phoenix.

Cameron Payne picked up three fouls in the first quarter after scoring seven straight points for the Suns.

The Pelicans were thoroughly outplayed in the first quarter and trailed 32-20.

Phoenix shot 56 percent (13 of 24) from the field, the Suns outrebounded New Orleans 11-9 and the Pelicans had six turnovers to just one for the Suns.

The Suns controlled play for much of the second quarter, building a 17-point lead but the Pelicans came on a bit late to cut the deficit to 59-46.

New Orleans shot just 39 percent from the field in the first half and made just 25 percent (4 of 16) from three-point range.

Chris Paul, who had just four points in game four, scored 16 points with six assists while Ayton had 13 points and five rebounds in the first half.

Brandon Ingram scored 13 points in the half while CJ McCollum had 12. The Pelicans had eight turnovers in the half.

Jae Crowder picked up his fifth personal foul with 7:19 to play in the third quarter.

After scoring just four points in the first half, Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and eight rebounds in the third quarter.

New Orleans won the third quarter but only by a 32-30 margin and trailed 89-78 going to the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans got within seven points on several occasions in the fourth quarter but could never get any closer as New Orleans simply could not score, registering just 19 points in the final quarter.

While Valanciunas did his job with an excellent second half, the Pelicans got virtually nothing from Ingram (one point) in the fourth quarter and McCollum simply had an off night, going 7 for 22 from the field, including just 1 of 8 from three-point range.

New Orleans cannot afford its stars not to be stars if they want to beat the Suns, with or without Devin Booker. Ingram and McCollum combined to make just 14 of 41 field goal attempts (34%), including 2 of 13 (15%) from three-point range. That is not going to get it done, not even close. Ingram also missed four free throw attempts.

The Pelicans were a miserable 5 of 25 (20%) from three-point range.

Ingram scored 22 points, McCollum scored 21 and Jose Alvarado again provided a spark off the bench with 12 points.

Mikal Bridges scored 24 points in the second half and he was by far the best player on the floor, scoring 31 points with five rebounds, four blocks, two assists, two steals and just one turnover.

How good was Bridges?

He was 12 of 17 from the field, including 4 of 4 from three-point range and 3 of 3 from the free throw line.

With their backs to the wall, the Pelicans will host Phoenix Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans will need to play with more energy from the start and will need their stars to return to playing like stars.