Devin Booker Explodes as Suns Down Pelicans

PHOENIX -- The last time Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker walked into Smoothie King Center, he dropped a smooth 52 points against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Not much changed since, apparently.

Booker's 52 points propelled the Suns to a 124-111 victory against New Orleans on Monday night, pushing Phoenix's record to 44-31 on the season. The win now draws the Suns just one game back of the Pelicans with one more clash vs New Orleans coming on Sunday.

Prior to action, Pelicans coach Willie Green was well aware of what Booker - and his star teammates - were capable of.

“You can’t allow Kevin (Durant), Devin (Booker), Bradley (Beal) to play in rhythm. It’s the same as the previous couple teams  we just played. Try to come out early and be physical, play with force, make them have to guard you on the other end," Green said to reporters pre-game.

"Devin (Booker) is tough. There is a reason he is one of the best. We have to do better.”

New Orleans didn't quite have the recipe for success from the start, as the Suns led 46-28 after the first after shooting an astounding 66.7% from the field, including 9-14 from deep. Booker finished with 24 points while Durant was the game's next leading scorer with 11.

Phoenix carried a 20-point lead into the break in 74-54 fashion as Booker finished with 37 in the first half. New Orleans' leading scorer to that point was Trey Murphy III with 12 points.

In the third quarter, Booker reached a regular season career-high seven three-pointers, surpassing his previous high of six (which was done 26 times previously). New Orleans trailed 103-90 heading into the fourth.

The Pelicans didn't go down without swinging, as Phoenix's fourth quarter woes continued as New Orleans brought their deficit to as little as seven in the late stages of the game before the final buzzer sounded. Bradley Beal hit a number of baskets to help keep the Pelicans at bay in the closing moments.

According to the Pelicans' team broadcast, Booker became the second player in NBA history with 50+ points in three straight games against any opponent. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player to accomplish such a feat.

Phoenix returns home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.