Booker scores season-high 44 points, Suns outlast Pelicans

Devin Booker broke out of a perimeter-shooting slump, scoring 21 of his season-high 44 points in the third quarter, and Ricky Rubio powered the Phoenix Suns with four points and a critical assist in overtime in a 139-132 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

Playing the back end of a back-to-back, Phoenix led by 18 points entering the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans fought back with five 3-pointers, two by the normally scatter-shooting Lonzo Ball, to tie it at 125.

The Pelicans had a chance to win in regulation, but Brandon Ingram missed a 15-foot jumper from the right baseline as time expired.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and New Orleans Pelicans guard Kenrich Williams reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

In overtime, Ingram’s conventional three-point play tied it at 129, but Rubio hit a 12-footer and a scoop in the lane and then added a no-look assist to put the Suns up 135-129. Rubio finished with 15 assists.

New Orleans got to 135-132 on JJ Redick’s 3-pointer with 56.5 left, but Frank Kaminsky, who had six points in the overtime, iced it with two free throws. Kaminsky finished with 20 points, and Kelly Oubre had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Booker was just 9 of 31 from long range in his previous five games, but he made 5 of 11 3-pointers, including all three of his attempts in 33-21 third quarter when the Suns built a 105-85 lead.

New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry and guard Jrue Holiday watch a replay before contesting a foul call during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

The Suns led 74-70 at halftime and then took control by opening the third quarter on a 16-3 run. The Pelicans gunned their way back into contention in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 118-113 on JJ Redick’s fourth 3-pointer of the game, but they could not get closer.

New Orleans, which lost its seventh consecutive game, had four players with at least 20 points: Redick with 26, Jrue Holiday with 23, Ingram with 21 and Ball with 20 and 11 assists.

TIP-INS

Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8) goes up for the ball next to New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram and guard JJ Redick (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Suns: Monty Williams returned to New Orleans as an NBA head coach for the first time since his five-season tenure with the Pelicans (173-221) ended in May 2015. Tragically, Williams’ wife Ingrid, the mother of five, died on Feb. 10, 2016, in a head-on collision in Oklahoma City. Williams said several friends in New Orleans helped him cope with the tragedy. “You meet so many people when you’re a head coach in a town like this, whether it’s in the organization, the players, Covenant House, New Orleans Mission, going down to the bayou on an off day and catching redfish and just hanging with the Cajuns down there,” Williams said. “More than anybody, pastor Bill Gebhardt of Fellowship Bible Church in Metairie – he’s like my dad. If I hadn’t met pastor Bill when I came here, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

… Aron Baynes sat out with a left calf strain. … Ricky Rubio’s turnover one minute into the second quarter was his first since a Nov. 29 game against Dallas.

He recorded 35 assists during that same span.

New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) goes to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Pelicans: Executive vice president David Griffin said the team will be exceedingly careful with No. 1 pick Zion Williams, who has been sidelined for six weeks since arthroscopic knee surgery. “If we get outside the eight weeks, it’s because he didn’t meet the (knee-strength) metrics,” Griffin said. … Derrick Favors, whose mother died unexpectedly two weeks ago, missed his fifth straight game while on personal leave. … Kenrich Williams returned from a sprained left ankle after having missed the last two games. … UP NEXT

Suns: End a four-game road trip at Houston on Saturday.

Pelicans: At Dallas on Saturday.

New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick (4) and Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric watch the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker goes to the basket in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Nicolo Melli (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) rolls onto his back after shooting a 3-pointer during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) dunks during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (AP PhotoGerald Herbert)

Chris Paul scored 19 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns overcame Devin Booker's absence to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 114-111 on Friday night in Game 3 of the first-round series.

Deandre Ayton added 28 points and 17 rebounds to help the top-seeded Suns take a 2-1 series lead. Paul scored 15 of Phoenix’s first 23 points of the final quarter. He also had 14 assists.

Booker strained his right hamstring Tuesday night after scoring 31 first-half points in a 125-114 home loss. He sat on the bench during Game 3.

Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) is held back as he goes after New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10), who was called for a flagrant-2 foul and ejected during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

Mikal Bridges had 17 points for the Suns. Backup center center JaVale McGee scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Suns hurt the Pelicans inside.

Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 34 points. CJ McCollum had 30.

Game 4 is Sunday night in New Orleans.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) dunks against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

Jose Alvarado kept the Pelicans in it in the fourth with seven consecutive points, but Paul answered with five straight points and an assist to tie it at 90 with 6:32 left. Paul then had eight consecutive points for a 98-93 lead.

The Suns took their biggest lead, 66-53, early in the third quarter, but New Orleans used a 12-0 run over the next 2:43 to pull to 66-63. McCollum was the catalyst with a 3-pointer and a layup, and New Orleans pulled to 81-79 entering the fourth quarter on the strength of a 31-22 third-period run.

McCollum’s 16-foot jumper with 5:13 left in the first half tied it at 43, but while the ball was in the air, Pelicans forward Jaxson Hayes barreled into Jae Crowder, who was standing on the baseline near the basket. Hayes’ shoulder-to-chest foul was reviewed and earned him a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) is fouled by New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

That dustup sparked a 16-5 Phoenix run to close the half, and the Suns led 59-48 at intermission.

Ayton, who was held to just 10 points in a Game 2 loss to New Orleans, had 21 points in the half on 10-of-14 shooting, with four of his baskets coming on feeds from Paul.

TIP INS

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, left, works against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) in the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

Suns: SG Landry Shamet has the confidence of coach Monty Williams. “He the ability to score the ball and play-make, get downhill,” Williams said. “But defensively, he fights, and that’s something that we’ve noticed with him. He’ll make plays blocking shots at the rim. He’ll stick his nose in there to rebound on the backside. So he’s been a guy that we’ve been able to rely on in situations like this.” He had five points, missing all five of his 3-point attempts.

Pelicans: Reserve PG Devonte Graham, who has struggled offensively, had 11 first-points, including three 3-pointers. … Coach Willie Green said he could sense a growing momentum among Pelicans fans in what is normally considered a football city. “We’re thankful and grateful for our fans and the support that we’ve been getting,” he said. “We’re trying to put a team forward that represents the city well, and I think we’re moving in the right direction, and I think people can feel that.”

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) is fouled by Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) steals the ball from Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) in the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes (10) is fouled by Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) defends against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green watches as a foul is called against a Pelicans player during the first half of Game 3 of the team's NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)

Phoenix Suns center JaVale McGee (00) reaches for a rebound during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoMichael DeMocker)