Recap: New Orleans vs. Phoenix
New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - All Eric Bledsoe needed was an opportunity.
The emerging star is showing early on that he can carry a team on his broad shoulders.
Bledsoe had 25 points, five assists and three steals in the Phoenix Suns' 104-98 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Acquired from the Clippers in a three-team swap during the offseason, the chiseled guard was 10-of-12 from the field for Phoenix, which improved to 3-1 on the young season.
Anthony Davis tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans, while Eric Gordon netted 20 points in the loss.
Trailing 60-50 after making a pair of free throws midway through the third, the Suns countered with a 21-4 run.
Gerald Green, who netted 18 points, nailed four triples during the surge, including one to cap it and make it 71-64 late in the third.
Phoenix made 12-of-13 shots and sunk six 3-pointers in a row at one point.
The Suns led 78-69 after three, but New Orleans pulled within 87-85 midway through the fourth when Anthony Morrow drained a 3-pointer.
Phoenix, though, put in the next six as Tucker's reverse layup staked the Suns a 93-85 advantage with 2:25 left. The Pelicans never got within less than four the rest of the way.
Earlier, New Orleans raced out to a 27-13 advantage before taking a 28-17 spread into the second.
The Suns outscored the hosts 24-17 in the second to whittle the gap to 45-41 heading into the break.