After falling to the Sacramento Kings in the final seconds a few nights prior, the Phoenix Suns were in another tight battle on Thursday that came down to the wire against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
The team was without Deandre Ayton (suspension), Ricky Rubio (back spasms) and Aron Baynes (hip flexor strain) as Tyler Johnson and Frank Kaminsky filled the starting spots at point guard and center. With another new starting lineup, the Suns were going to need time adjusting to the players around them.
The Pelicans went up by as many as 12 in the first quarter, but nine points from Cam Johnson off the bench, including three three-pointers, brought the Suns deficit to just five entering the second quarter.