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Suns remain unbeaten at home, top Pelicans

Nov 11, 2013 - 5:03 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Markieff Morris exploded for 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting off the bench as the Phoenix Suns downed the New Orleans Pelicans, 101-94, to keep their surprising start going.

Eric Bledsoe scored 24 points, handed out six assists and even recorded a big block of 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis in the closing seconds of Phoenix's fifth victory on the young season.

The win made Jeff Hornacek the first coach in Suns history to win his first four home games.

"They have confidence they can win these games," Hornacek said of his overachieving bunch.

Jason Smith had a team-high 22 points while Jrue Holiday and Anthony Morrow added 16 apiece for the Pelicans, who had won two in a row since losing on their home floor to these Suns last week.

New Orleans never led in the second half, though Morrow's jumper midway through the fourth quarter cut the Pelicans' deficit to 80-79.

Morris scored on consecutive possessions to keep the visitors at bay, and Gerald Green beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer for an 87-81 Phoenix lead with 4:13 remaining.

Goran Dragic, who missed the previous three games with an ankle injury, and Bledsoe each hit 3-pointers around a Davis free throw to extend the margin to 95-85 coming down the stretch.

Bledsoe, who is listed as nine inches shorter than Davis, blocked the center at the rim in the final minute to send the crowd into a frenzy, and Green's slam at the other end put an exclamation point on the win.

"We just didn't have our best stuff tonight," Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said.

There were seven lead changes in a low-scoring first quarter that ended with the Suns clinging to a 19-16 advantage.

Phoenix scored the last seven points of the second quarter to take a 42-38 lead into the break and never relinquished the lead in the second half.

The Pelicans did tie it late in the third quarter, but Morris netted six straight points in the final 1:11 to send the hosts into the fourth holding a 71-65 cushion.

Game Notes

New Orleans did not attempt a free throw in the first half but finished 12- of-13 at the line ... The Suns had 21 fast-break points to the Pelicans' 10 ... Green netted 15 points and Dragic added 12 ... Davis finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, but shot just 5-of-13 from the field.