PHOENIX (AP) — Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 27 points, Devin Booker added 16 and the Phoenix Suns beat the injury-battered New Orleans Pelicans 124-111 on Friday night.
The Suns’ usual scoring aces didn’t stand out too much, but the team benefited from productive play from Bridges and his teammates on the bench. Torrey Craig finished with 13 units with a full effectiveness — six baskets of six shots; Cameron Payne had 12 points and Bismack Biyombo had 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Bridges was 10-for-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pelicans were without several of their best players because of injuries, including forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Suns also had nursing problems: their starting center, Deandre Ayton, left the game in the first quarter after spraining his left ankle and did not return to the court, leaving Biyombo playing 23 minutes.
The game was close much of the night, but the Suns slowly opened the gap in the second half and, thanks to a 14-0 run late in the third quarter, entered the decider with a 93-83 lead.
