Tensions rose during the Phoenix Suns’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, when Devin Booker and Dyson Daniels got into an argument that ended in three technical fouls.
The incident occurred late in the third quarter, with the Pelicans ahead 96-92 when Booker was penalized for an offensive foul. Daniels then shoved Booker from behind, forcing him to reply with a chest push.
Jose Alvarado instantly intervened, challenging Booker in defense of his Pelicans teammate, resulting in a brief altercation.
Following a brief pause in play, Devin Booker, Daniels, and Alvarado were each handed technical fouls.
The Pelicans won 113-105, ending their four-game losing streak and surprising the Suns on the road. The win brought their record to 46-32.
The Suns, meanwhile, had their three-game winning run halted, dropping to 46-32 on the season.
Despite being deadlocked in the standings with the Pelicans, the Suns continue to maintain the sixth seed. The sixth seed is essential since it is the final playoff place, while the seventh through tenth seeds are for the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Devin Booker and the rest of the Suns’ ‘Big 3’ show up in the loss against the Pelicans.Despite the loss, the Suns showed promise in the game, particularly from Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant, all of whom played well. The trio accounted for 81 of the team’s 105 points.
Booker ended with 25 points and seven assists in 38 minutes of action. He scored despite missing all six 3-point attempts.
Beal scored a game-high 33 points, making seven of his eight 3-pointers and dishing five assists.
Durant scored 23 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
The rest of the Suns struggled, with their bench scoring only seven points.
CJ McCollum (31 points, five assists) and Zion Williamson (29 points, 10 rebounds) led the Pelicans to win.
The Pelicans’ bench also made significant contributions, with Dyson Daniels scoring 10 points and six rebounds, Jose Alvarado scoring 15 points, and Larry Nance scoring nine points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
The Pelicans will next embark on a three-game road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors before finishing the regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Suns will play the Clippers twice before finishing the regular season against the Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves.
