Game ID: 22400857
New Orleans Pelicans @ Phoenix Suns
Friday, February 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
PHX Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 40 23 29 33 125NOP 18 24 28 38 108
NOP @ PHX ScoutingNOP @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Ighodaro missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 41 min since (113% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 33 min since (102% of 32)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Allen 24 to 29 min over the last 3
NEW Bol 12 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 4 since 2/11, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 41 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (110% of 32)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 5 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Durant back 2/11 after 3, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (117% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 6 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (7% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 7 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 2/20 after 4, 39 min since (121% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 3 min since (20% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 34 min (104% of 32)
OUT Morris missed 8 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 1 min since (8% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 9 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/23 after 4, 2 min since (9% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 2/23 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 10 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 24 min since (75% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 2/28 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 17)
NEW Bol 12 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 2 min (8% of 19)
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 11 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
NEW Bol 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT Jones missed 17 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Olynyk missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 24 min (93% of 25)
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 33 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 4
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 18 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 34 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (93% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 19 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 35 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (96% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 20 since 1/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 36 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 10 min (73% of 14)
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 37 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 10 min since (73% of 14)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 38 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 25 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 9 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 39 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 10 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 40 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 11 since 2/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Payton missed 41 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Beal at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Ighodaro (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (6 straight), Boston (7 straight), Payton (37 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 112 a night to Phoenix's 128 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it Phoenix 118, New Orleans 117, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/22 @ CHI 121-117 — PHX notes
PHX won 121-117. PHX shot 48% (43 of 89) to CHI's 42%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to CHI's 17 — 25 points from the stripe to their 17. Booker led with 29 (10 of 20, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Durant added 27, Beal 25. The hinge was Q2, 40-28: PHX came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 2.
2/23 @ TOR 109-127 — PHX notes
PHX lost 109-127. PHX shot 51% (43 of 85) to TOR's 49%, 7 of 28 from three, and got to the line 22 times to TOR's 30. The glass went 37-49 against them. Booker led with 31 (12 of 25, 3 of 8 from three); Beal added 30, Durant 15. Q3 was theirs, 30-21, the deficit cut from 15 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 106-79 against them. Allen's -22 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ MEM 148-151 — PHX notes
PHX lost 148-151 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 54% (53 of 99) to MEM's 53%, 21 of 37 from three. Booker led with 28 (12 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Durant added 26, Beal 24. Q1 was theirs, 34-31, but the other 4 periods went 120-114 against them. They led by as many as 10. Bol's -12 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 vs NOP 116-124 — PHX notes
PHX lost 116-124. PHX shot 47% (44 of 94) to NOP's 48%, 20 of 53 from three. Booker led with 36 (13 of 29, 6 of 16 from three); Durant added 28, Jones 15. Q2 was theirs, 32-26, turning a 5-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 98-84 against them. Allen's -22 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs NOP 125-108 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-108. PHX shot 59% (47 of 79) to NOP's 51%, 21 of 40 from three. Bol led with 25 (9 of 12, 5 of 8 from three); Richards added 19, O'Neale 18. The hinge was Q1, 40-18: from level to 22 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/02 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Beal at 26 a game. Without Beal (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and McDaniels at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Randle (13 straight), Gobert (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to Minnesota's 34 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Minnesota minus-7. Call it Phoenix 118, Minnesota 117, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/04 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Beal at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to the Clippers' 31 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Phoenix's 125. Call it Phoenix 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/07 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 43 percent from three to Denver's 37 and the defense, Denver allowing 115 a night to Phoenix's 123. Call it Denver 121, Phoenix 115.
3/09 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 21 and Thompson at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Washington (3 straight), Davis (11 straight), Lively II (24 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Dunn (2 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-13 and the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Dallas's 31. Call it Phoenix 117, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.
2/21 @ DAL 103-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 103-111. NOP shot 41% (38 of 92) to DAL's 43%, 8 of 27 from three. Williamson led with 29 (11 of 15, 7 of 11 at the line); Murphy III added 20, McCollum 16. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. B. Brown's -20 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 vs SAS 114-96 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-96. NOP shot 45% (42 of 94) to SAS's 33%, 11 of 33 from three. NOP turned it over 16 times to SAS's 10, and SAS turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 69-46 for them. Williamson led with 22 (8 of 17, 6 of 10 at the line); Matković added 19, Murphy III 15. The hinge was Q4, 39-17: NOP came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 18, and the lead reached 21. NOP trailed 40-53 at the half and won the second half 74-43. Williamson was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/25 vs SAS 109-103 — NOP notes
NOP won 109-103. NOP shot 44% (41 of 94) to SAS's 41%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAS's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 14. Murphy III led with 24 (9 of 21, 3 of 10 from three); Williamson added 18, McCollum 13. The hinge was Q2, 33-21: the deficit went from 14 to 2. NOP trailed 49-51 at the half and won the second half 60-52. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/27 @ PHX 124-116 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-116. NOP shot 48% (50 of 104) to PHX's 47%, 17 of 47 from three. Williamson led with 27 (13 of 17); McCollum added 19, Murphy III 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 18. NOP trailed 61-62 at the half and won the second half 63-54. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/28 @ PHX 108-125 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-125. NOP took 8 more shots (87 to 79), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to PHX's 59%, 11 of 28 from three. Hawkins led with 24 (10 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Missi added 24, Olynyk 11. Q4 was theirs, 38-33, the deficit cut from 22 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 92-70 against them. Murphy III's -19 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 17 and Sensabaugh at 16 a game. Without Markkanen (3 straight), Hendricks (56 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (7 straight), Boston (8 straight), Payton (38 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 110 a night to Utah's 119 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Utah plus-2. Call it Utah 115, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/04 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 26 and James at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Reddish (14 straight), Morris (7 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (8 straight), Boston (9 straight), Payton (39 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112 and the line, where the Lakers take 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 18. Call it the Lakers 115, New Orleans 109.
3/06 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/08 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Bol
CG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
TW T. Washington Jr.
NOPAR A. Reeves
BB B. Brown
JA J. Alvarado
JC J. Cain
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
PHX/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Bol scores 25 points and Suns snap 3-game skid with 125-108 win over shorthanded Pelicans
PHOENIX -- — Bol Bol scored 25 points, one shy of his career high, and the Phoenix Suns never trailed in defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 125-108 to snap a three-game skid Friday night.
Nick Richards had 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Suns, who had lost seven of their last eight. Royce O'Neal scored 18 points off the bench, while Devin Booker had 17 points and nine assists. Kevin Durant also scored 17.
The Pelicans beat the Suns on Thursday, but played this game without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum , who rested after recovering from injuries earlier this season. Williamson had his first career triple-double in New Orleans' 124-116 victory.
Rookie Yves Missi matched his season high with 24 points for New Orleans. Jordan Hawkins also scored 24 for the Pelicans.
Phoenix played without Bradley Beal (left calf) and Grayson Allen (left foot).
Takeaways Pelicans: Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday night. Olynyk finished with 11 points and Brown had 10. Antonio Reeves (11 points) and Trey Murphy III (10) also were in double figures for New Orleans.
Suns: Led by as many as 29 points before New Orleans' 38-point fourth quarter. Phoenix has allowed opponents to score 100 or more in 17 consecutive games.
Key moment Bol scored 10 of the Suns’ first 20 points as they took an early 14-point lead. Phoenix led 40-18 after the first quarter.
Key stat After a season-low six turnovers in Thursday’s victory, New Orleans matched that total in the first quarter Friday. The Pelicans finished with 15.
Up next Both teams next play Sunday with New Orleans at Utah and Phoenix hosting Minnesota.