Final Score: Phoenix Suns blast New Orleans Pelicans, 111-86

I told you this morning how #Zach #Lowe pointed out to me (and a million of my closest friends) that the #Pelicans give you all the threes you want, and the key to a #Suns win is to take and make them.

#On #Tuesday night on the featured TNT game, your #Phoenix #Suns made a TON of threes to propel them to a blowout win over the #Pelicans, 111-86.

The game on TNT allowed the #Suns to show off their new The #Valley jerseys and court, and they absolutely popped on TV.

“I wish we could play in them the whole season,” #Ayton said later, with a big smile, about the jerseys standing for how they represent the valley and all the #Suns fans. “It’s all love. #All love.”

The #Suns led by 2 points after one quarter, 22 after two and 39 after three (100-61). They made 17 of 38 threes in the first three quarters alone, but they also outrebounded (32-26) and drew more free throws (17-11) than the burly #Pellies. #All that through three quarters.

I’m using only three-quarter stats because for the first time this year, the fourth quarter simply didn’t matter. #Not when you lead by 39 at 100-61 going into it.

#Who was great for the #Suns?

#Jae #Crowder had 21 points in 21 minutes to lead all scorers. #Six different #Suns scored in double figures and none of them were named #Booker or #Paul. #Deandre #Ayton put up 13 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes. #No starter played more than 30 minutes in this one.

“For #Chris and #Devin to not have to carry us, that’s a great sign,” coach #Monty #Williams said. #Chris #Paul had 9 points and 9 assists. #Devin #Booker had 9 points and 3 assists.

I’m sure #Booker is a bit confused about all this, considering he’s had to BE the one all his career. #But these days #Booker just needs to pass out of those blitzy double teams and let the rest of his guys blow the dudes out.

#Mikal and the two #Cams were incredible once again. #Mikal #Bridges played very good defense on #Brandon #Ingram while recording 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. #Cameron #Johnson took 10 threes and scored 18 points, while also recording 2 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. #And #Cam #Payne had 13 points and 7 assists. #In this triumphant return, #Dario #Saric had 10 points and 4 rebounds.

“Watching #Dario was really cool,” #Williams said. “We expect him for a few more games.”

The #Suns are 3-1 for the first time since 2014. #And their 48 total three-point attempts was a franchise record.

#But don’t get too excited quite yet.

“We’re not gonna get happy on the farm four games in,” coach #Monty #Williams said after the game. “You need a 20-game sample size to know who you are.”

#Game flow

#After a nip and tuck first quarter, the #Pelicans-Suns game blew wide open to a 22-point (66-44) difference by halftime. The #Pelicans made 13 of 18 shots in the first quarter. #Zion #Williamson and #Steven #Adams combined to make 11 of 12 shots by halftime, while the #Phoenix #Suns #All-Star back court of #Chris #Paul and #Devin #Booker combined for only two shot attempts. TOTAL.

#All those things are true.

#So you might be surprised to find out it was your PHOENIX SUNS with the 22-point halftime lead. #Yes, the #Suns with the very cool alternate #Valley court and uniforms. The #Suns with really good young talent. The #Phoenix #Suns with the point god, CP3.

The rest of the #Suns made 9 of 19 threes in the half, #Jae #Crowder, #Mikal #Bridges and #Deandre #Ayton all tallying 11+ and nine different #Suns getting into the scoring column. #Once again, #Cam #Payne was sublime. #Mikal #Bridges was glorious. The ball was popping all over the court, with big thanks to #Dario #Saric’s first appearance as the team’s connector. #At halftime, #Saric had 7 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal. The #Suns won the second quarter 35-15.

#So of course the TNT guys spent halftime talking about #Zion #Williamson. #Big shocker.

#Any team would come out soft to start the second half after gloating on a 22-point lead… except a team led by #Chris #Paul and #Jae #Crowder that is. #Just like the start of the game, #Paul and #Crowder combined to help the #Suns keep that foot smashed on the gas pedal.

#Soon the #Suns lead was 79-47 and the #Pelicans called a timeout.

SEVENTY NINE TO FOURTY SEVEN.

I understand this is early-season stuff, and you can’t put any permanent marker on a game like this. #Remember the #Suns were 5-2 a year ago before injuries and learning curves had them struggling to stay close to .500 the rest of the way. #But this feels different. #This feels sustainable.

#After three quarters, the #Suns were up by 39. #Halfway through the 4th, it was still a 40-point lead.

#So then we saw a closing lineup of #Carter, E’#Twaun #Moore, #Damian #Jones, #Frank #Kaminsky and #Ty-Shon #Alexander. #That’s when TNT cut away to another game.

THE SUNS WERE BLOWING OUT THE PELICANS SO BAD THAT TNT CUT AWAY TO A CLOSER GAME. The #Kings, who the #Suns just beat by 13, were leading the #Nuggets late in the fourth 117-108.

#Me happy.