Unstoppable Williamson, red-hot Pelicans defeat Suns 128-117

NEW ORLEANS – Zion Williamson was unstoppable.

Jose Alvarado led a dominant effort from the bench.

CJ McCollum broke out of an offensive slumber.

And Larry Nance Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas contributed to a powerful performance in the paint that enabled the surging New Orleans Pelicans to withstand a 3-point barrage from the Phoenix Suns in a 128-117 victory on Friday night inside the rollicking Smoothie King Center .

The Western Conference-leading Pelicans (17-8) won their sixth consecutive game and for the 10th time in their last 12 games even though second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram missed a his sixth consecutive game because of a toe injury and fellow starter Herbert Jones Jr. missed his fourth straight game with an ankle injury.

Williamson scored a season-high 35 points while making 13 of 17 field-goal attempts and repeatedly broke free for thunderous dunks except when the Suns fouled him to prevent thunderous dunks. He made nine of 12 free throws.

Pelicans coach Willie Green called Williamson’s performance a “phenomenal game from start to finish.”

Alvarado, whose availability was a game-time decision because of a rib contusion suffered in a 104-98 victory against Detroit two nights earlier, entered the game midway through first quarter and jump-started his cold-shooting teammates and a quiet crowd.

He finished with 20 points, Nance added 17 and Naji Marshall had his second consecutive outstanding game with 14 points as the New Orleans bench outscored the Phoenix bench 56-29.

Green focused on beating the Suns’ 3-point marksmen with Williamson, Valanciunas and Nance on the inside. It was a back-and-forth competition, but the Pelicans’ strength won the battle of attrition with the Suns skill as New Orleans scored a season-high 72 points in the paint compared to the Suns’ 38.

The Suns made 22 of 44 3-pointers and the Pelicans made just 8 of 27, but the scoreboard settled which approach was more effective as for the first time in Pelicans history they won a game in which the opponent made 22 or more 3-pointers.

Further evidence came in the form of the Pelicans making 28 of 35 free throws while the Suns made nine of 13.

Nance scored 17 and Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds to supplement Williamson’s dominance on the inside.

McCollum’s shooting has been erratic this season, he has missed time due to illness and he’s still regaining his conditioning. But on Friday even though he made just one of six 3-pointers, he was an efficient six of 10 on 2-pointers while scoring 18 points. He had 11 of his points in the third quarter as the Pelicans extended a three-point halftime lead to 13 by scoring 40.

The Suns kept the pressure on with their long-range shooting and Torrey Craig made consecutive 3-pointers and Cameron Payne added another that gave the Suns a one-point lead with 4:28 left.

McCollum answered with a 3-pointer to give the Pelicans the lead for good and Nance scored six and Williamson had five as New Orleans pulled away down the stretch.

Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Paul scored 24, Devin Booker and Craig scored 14 each, Damion Lee had 12 and Mikal Bridges 11 as the Suns lost for the fourth time in five games.

The Pelicans shot poorly and fell behind 23-14 and the crowd was unenthusiastic until Alvarado entered the game for the first time midway through the first quarter.

He immediately made a 3-pointer that started an 8-0 Pelicans run as they trimmed the lead to 27-26 at the end of the period.

In the second quarter the score was tied seven times and the lead changed hands seven times, the last coming when Alvarado made three free throws to give New Orleans a 49-47 lead. Williamson added two baskets and the Pelicans held a 55-52 halftime lead.

The Pelicans had the game in hand in the final seconds when Nance got free for a break-away dunk with 18.2 seconds left and after a Paul miss fed Williamson for a windmill dunk with 1.9 seconds left that looked like a warm-up for the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend.

The Suns took exception to Williamson’s flamboyance while scoring a basket that was unnecessary and players from both teams exchanged heated words before heading to the locker room.

“They’ve got to get back on defense if they don’t want us to dunk the ball,” McCollum said.

The teams will play again at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Smoothie King Center .