Suns 74, Pelicans 72: Brandan Wright collected 16 points, eight rebounds and a career high-tying seven blocks as host Phoenix edged shorthanded New Orleans.

Markieff Morris added 17 points and eight boards and P.J. Tucker collected 12 and 12 for the Suns, who pulled within 2 1/2 games of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. Marcus Morris grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds and Eric Bledsoe recorded 11 boards as Phoenix built up a 57-45 advantage on the glass.

Eric Gordon scored 14 points to lead the Pelicans, who lost All-Star Anthony Davis to a sprained ankle in the pregame shootaround. Norris Cole scored 12 points off the bench and Omer Asik grabbed 14 rebounds before leaving with a calf injury as New Orleans dropped a game behind eighth-place Oklahoma City.

Cole’s jumper put the Pelicans on top 66-64 midway through the fourth quarter but Wright scored six points and blocked a shot during a 7-0 burst that left the Suns in front 71-66 with 2:45 to play. Gordon’s 3-pointer pulled New Orleans within 73-72 with 46.9 seconds remaining but Evans missed a potential go-ahead jumper in the lane and Tucker split a pair of free throws as Phoenix put it away.

The Pelicans shot 34.9 percent from the floor in the first half and the Suns led by 10 in the second quarter before taking a 43-34 advantage into the break. Markieff Morris’ free throws pushed Phoenix’s lead to 55-45 with 3:11 left in the third before New Orleans bridged the final two quarters with a 12-0 burst to grab a 57-55 edge with 11:15 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Bledsoe and Marcus Morris combined to go 3-of-26 from the field as the Suns shot 34.9 percent from the field, including 2-of-22 from 3-point range. … Davis and Asik are considered day-to-day for the Pelicans, who continue their road trip at Golden State on Friday. … Phoenix C Alex Len (ankle) missed his second straight game.