The Phoenix Suns improved to 5-2 to start the season, dropping the New Orleans Pelicans 101-94 on Sunday.
Here's what you need to know:
- Markieff Morris is going to be a problem. The third-year forward managed to overshadow Anthony Davis (14 points, 12 rebounds) on Sunday, posting his fourth-straight 20-point game. Morris scored 23 and added five rebounds, pushing his early season averages to 17.2 and 6.8, respectively. He's also shooting 63 percent.
- Tale of two halves: the teams shot 42 percent (New Orleans) and 35 percent (Phoenix) in the first half and then 47 percent and 69 percent, respectively, in the second. It was even throughout, but the first half was all defense and second half was all offense.
- Jason Smith posted the fifth 20-point game of his career, scoring 22 with eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.
- Eric Bledsoe is also a problem. He scored 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting and is now averaging 20.9 points on 52 percent shooting with very active defense. Should have extended him while they had the chance. He also did this, which seems unfair:
- No training wheels for Goran Dragic. The guard returned from an ankle injury and came off the bench, but played 30 minutes and looked just fine.
- Jeff Hornacek became the first Suns coach to start his career 4-0 at home. The team will be tested moving forward, though, with five of their next seven games on the road.
- Gerald Green bookends. Green started the game off with a windmill dunk just three minutes in, and followed with another big jam with just 30 seconds to play.
Courtesy: FS Arizona
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