Jones harassed Devin Booker relentlessly in the final seconds before blocking his three-point attempt to preserve a 126-124 win by the Pelicans over the Phoenix Suns.
The 2023-24 first-team All-Defensive forward had four steals and a block in his first game in five weeks, along with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. His team improved to 5-18 on the season, and to 3-2 in games where they’ve had Jones in the lineup.
The Suns dropped to 12-9, and to 1-7 without their own acclaimed forward, Kevin Durant, in the lineup. Durant is out for at least a week with an ankle injury, and even with Booker and Bradley Beal combining for 52 points, they couldn’t handle the suddenly-healthy Pelicans.
New Orleans finally has most of their top players back, though Zion Williamson remains out indefinitely. But with Jones, Dejounte Murray and C.J. McCollum healthy, the Pelicans actually look like the team that made the playoffs last season.
Especially in the third quarter, when New Orleans went for 45 points. Ingram had 21 of them, perhaps relieved to have teammates to take the scoring burden off him — he finished with 29.
But it was Jones who helped close out the Suns. With two minutes left, Jones stole the ball from Beal and 15 seconds later, drained a three-pointer to give New Orleans a four-point lead.
The Pelicans snapped a nine-game losing streak, but suddenly they’re looking like a real basketball team again. With the return of Jones, who Ingram called “our heart and soul,” they’re even looking dangerous.
