Dyson Daniels was New Orleans' shining light in an encouraging return from a knee injury but it was Devin Booker who again tormented the Pelicans in Phoenix's NBA win.
The Suns triumphed 124-111 on the Pelicans' home court on Tuesday (AEST).
It was Australian guard Daniels' second NBA game back from a torn meniscus that required knee surgery in February.
The 21-year-old had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in 25 minutes from the bench.
He played most of the final quarter and was the only Pelicans player boasting a positive points differential (10).
Daniels' NBA return came against Boston two days ago while he also enjoyed a one-off appearance for the club's G League affiliate, filling the stat sheet with 22 points, six assists and seven steals as the team's primary option.
The youngster played limited minutes in the Boomers' 2023 World Cup campaign, Australian coach Brian Goorjian telling AAP he is facing pressure from Melbourne United's former NBA championship winner Matthew Dellavedova for a spot on the plane to the Paris Olympics later this year.
But Daniels' improved physicality and athleticism in his return surely impressed Goorjian, as they did his Pelicans coach Willie Green on another otherwise deflating night.
"He was really good; physically, defensively, you could see something clicked," Green said of the Australian.
"He was active getting steals, getting deflections.
"He'll continue to grow and get better but we all like what he did on the floor tonight."
Green credited Booker (52 points on 19 of 28 shooting, including nine threes) for creating some of his own shots but said his men were too passive and "soft" in allowing others.
It was Booker's second 50-point haul against the Pelicans this season and they'll meet again on Monday in Phoenix.
Kevin Durant added 20 points and Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and 19 rebounds as the Suns (44-31) pulled within one game of the Pelicans (45-30) for sixth place in the Western Conference.
In Charlotte, Jayson Tatum had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Sam Hauser poured in 25 points on seven triples and the Boston Celtics avenged an early season loss to the Hornets with a 118-104 victory.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and Derrick White had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who’ve won 11 of their last 13 games.
Jaren Jackson Jr scored 40 points and Memphis held on for a 110-108 victory in Detroit that was the Pistons' ninth in their last 10 games.
Franz Wagner scored 20 points and hosts Orlando escaped with a 104-103 win over struggling Portland.
Deandre Ayton missed an open baseline jumper at the final horn for the Blazers, who have lost 10 in a row.
In Indianapolis, Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points and had 13 assists to lead Indiana to a 133-111 rout of Brooklyn.
And DeMar DeRozan's 31 points weren't enough for Chicago, who lost at home 113-101 to an Atlanta side that had four starters score between 15 and 20 points.
