PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns did just enough early, then barely enough late.
Behind a decisive middle stretch and a meaningful edge in playmaking, Phoenix (36-27) held off the New Orleans Pelicans (20-45) 118-116 on March 7, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center. The Suns won the second and third quarters by a combined 11 points, then survived a Pelicans fourth-quarter push that nearly flipped the game.
How the game swung
New Orleans set the tone early, taking a 29-26 lead after the first quarter. Phoenix responded with its cleanest basketball of the night in the second, outscoring the Pelicans 32-23 to go into halftime up six. The Suns doubled down after the break, winning the third quarter 34-29 to stretch the cushion to 11.
That’s when the game turned into a test of execution under pressure. New Orleans poured in 35 points in the fourth — the best offensive quarter by either team — while Phoenix managed 26. The Pelicans made it a one-possession game down the stretch, but the Suns’ earlier work held up at the horn.
The differentiator: Phoenix’s assist gap
In a two-point game, the cleanest separator on the stat sheet was ball movement. Phoenix finished with 27 assists to New Orleans’ 18, a gap that speaks to shot quality and decision-making over 48 minutes.
The Suns’ best run — the second-and-third-quarter stretch that created the margin — aligned with that identity: organized offense, multiple touches, and enough connectivity to keep New Orleans from dictating matchups possession-to-possession.
Quarter-by-quarter snapshot
First quarter: Pelicans strike first
New Orleans controlled the opening frame 29-26, putting Phoenix in a position where it needed to stabilize its offense.
Second quarter: Suns flip the script
Phoenix’s 32-23 second quarter was the first major swing, turning a three-point deficit into a six-point halftime lead.
Third quarter: Phoenix builds breathing room
The Suns added to the advantage with a 34-29 third, pushing the lead to 92-81 entering the fourth.
Fourth quarter: New Orleans makes it a fight
The Pelicans’ 35-point closing quarter nearly erased everything. Phoenix didn’t match the scoring pace, but it didn’t need to — just enough stops and enough composure to finish 118-116.
What it means going forward
For Phoenix, it’s a win that reinforces the value of winning the “process” portions of the game — especially playmaking — even when the finish gets messy. At 36-27, the Suns banked another result they can point to in tight-game reps: build a margin with structure, then survive the volatility late.
For New Orleans, the late rally was real, but the hole mattered. Falling behind by 11 after three quarters left little margin for error, and the assist deficit underscored the difference between a hot quarter and sustained offensive organization.