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Surprising Suns host Pelicans

Nov 10, 2013 - 3:10 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New Orleans Pelicans embark on a western road trip, starting Sunday night against the surprising Phoenix Suns.

The Pelicans have won two straight, including an impressive road win in Memphis, and a home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. New Orleans toppled the Lakers, 96-85.

"Our guys are starting to buy into the fact that it is about the team and we all have to paddle this boat in the same direction and it's fun that way," said Pelicans head coach Monty Williams. "We want our guys to understand that it's not about me or them, it's about all of us."

Anthony Davis has been incredible this season, justifying his selection as the top pick in last year's draft. Against the Lakers, Davis scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked six shots. For the season, Davis is posting stout numbers of 23.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.3 bpg.

Jrue Holiday registered a double-double with 13 points and 13 assists against L.A. Eric Gordon, Jason Smith and Anthony Morrow all cracked the 10-point plateau for the Pelicans.

New Orleans will visit the Lakers and Utah Jazz on this trip.

The Suns have been one of this season's big surprises in this early part of the campaign.

Phoenix is tied for 10th in opponents' scoring and seventh in opponents' field-goal percentage.

Against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, the Suns overcame a horrendous third quarter to come from behind and get the victory. After Phoenix blew a 17-point halftime lead, the Nuggets crushed the Suns, 40-20 in the third, but they held Denver to 16 points in the fourth for a 114-103 victory.

"You've got a big lead, and then we couldn't do anything right," head coach Jeff Hornacek said. "We couldn't score. We couldn't play defense. All of the sudden you're down 10 or 11."

For the second consecutive game, Markieff Morris established a career-high with 28 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds as the Suns bench combined for 51 points.

Marcus Morris also scored in double digits for the second unit.

Miles Plumlee collected 18 points and 11 boards. Eric Bledsoe had 17 points and nine assists and Gerald Green managed 12 points.

The Suns already bested the Pelicans this season with a 104-98 victory on Nov. 5 in the Big Easy. New Orleans has taken three of its last five in Phoenix.