Davis, Randle double-doubles leads Pelicans past Suns 119-99

Anthony Davis had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Phoenix Suns 119-99 on Saturday night.

Davis led four Pelicans in double figures. New Orleans never trailed in winning its second straight game after a six-game losing streak.

Julius Randle also had a double-double, finishing with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Jrue Holiday scored 19 points and E'Twaun Moore had 17.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against Phoenix Suns forward Richaun Holmes (21) and forward Josh Jackson in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. The Pelicans won 119-99. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

T.J. Warren led the Suns with 25 points, Deandre Ayton scored 20 and grabbed 12 rebounds and Devin Booker scored 12 points.

It was the first time in 10 games that New Orleans had a victory by a margin of 10 or more points.

The Pelicans dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Suns, 53-37.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

The Pelicans scored the first seven points of the game and maintained a comfortable margin for the most part, but couldn't put away the Suns until midway through the fourth quarter.

New Orleans, which led 61-53 at halftime, scored its first seven points of the third quarter on free throws and increased its lead to 72-58.

The Pelicans led by as many as 18 during the third quarter, but saw the lead shrink to 91-82 after three quarters.

Phoenix Suns guard Elie Okobo (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

New Orleans began the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run for a 100-84 lead. It continued to extend the lead, even after coach Alvin Gentry took out his starters.

The Pelicans took advantage of free throw opportunities in the first quarter, as well. They led 33-26 after the opening period as Davis scored 10 points, despite making just one field goal. He made all eight of his foul shots.

New Orleans led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter but Phoenix scored the final five points of the period to trim the lead to 61-53 at halftime.

Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Julius Randle, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

TIP-INS

Suns: Phoenix has won just one game since defeating Dallas 121-100 in the season opener Oct. 17. . F T.J. Warren, who has come off the bench for most of the season, started for the second consecutive game. He started against Boston on Thursday and scored a season-high 29 points in a 116-109 overtime loss. . Devin Booker beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer from beyond midcourt.

Pelicans: F Nikola Mirotic and G Elfrid Payton missed the game because of sprained right ankles. Mirotic missed his first game and Payton missed his seventh straight. ... New Orleans scored 33 points in the first quarter, the seventh time in 12 games this season that it has scored at least 30 points in the opening quarter.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo (13) battles for a rebound against Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

RANDLE'S ROLE

F Julius Randle is usually the leader of the Pelicans bench, but he has been thrust into the starting lineup several times. He started three times in place of injured Anthony Davis during a recent five-game road trip. He returned to the bench when Davis returned two games ago, but he was back in the starting lineup Saturday in place of injured Nikola Mirotic. Randle had 22 points and 16 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Suns: Phoenix visits Oklahoma City on Monday.

Pelicans: New Orleans visits Toronto on Monday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)