New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) scores against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of a basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
Devin Booker scored 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns held off the New Orleans Pelicans 115-108 on Friday night in the Smoothie King Center.
Collin Gillespie scored 16 points and Dillon Brooks had 14 for the Suns (17-13), who will face the Pelicans again in the Smoothie King Center at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Zion Williamson scored 20, Jordan Poole and Trey Murphy had 19 each, and Jose Alvarado added 11 for the Pelicans (8-24).
The Suns beat the Pelicans 121-98 on Nov. 10 in Phoenix. Grayson Allen made 10 of 15 3-pointers and scored 42 points in that game. He’s the team’s third-leading scorer, but he did not play because of a knee injury.
Pelicans starting guard Herb Jones missed his second consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle.
Phoenix increased its five-point halftime lead to nine early in the third quarter, but Alvarado became the eighth Pelicans player to score in the quarter, making a layup and a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 74-73.
Booker answered with a three-point play, but New Orleans climbed back within 81-80 at the end of the third quarter.
Williamson had five points and assisted on Murphy’s 3-pointer as the Pelicans grabbed a 90-85 lead early in the third quarter. Booker scored nine points and the Suns took a 96-94 lead midway through the quarter.
New Orleans scored five straight to take a three-point lead before Phoenix scored six straight to take a 103-100 lead. The Pelicans got within one, but consecutive baskets by Gillespie and Williams gave the Suns a five-point lead with 44.9 seconds left.
Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said before the game that his team’s biggest emphasis was on keeping the Suns off of the offensive glass, but they weren’t successful in the first quarter.
Phoenix led by as many as seven points as it had 11 second-chance points off of seven offensive rebounds, though Poole’s four-point play helped New Orleans get within 26-23 at the end of the period.
Poole made a 3-pointer to start the second quarter, and his layup gave the Pelicans a 35-33 lead.
The Suns continued to have success with offensive rebounds, grabbing five that led to six second-quarter points on their way to a 53-48 halftime edge.
The Pelicans entered the game having shooting 80% or better on free throws in 11 consecutive games, but they were just 25 of 40 (62.5%) against the Suns.