So much for all that momentum the New Orleans Pelicans seemed to have been gaining in their last three games.

After back-to-back wins last week and then a single-digit loss on Saturday, the Pelicans seemed to be figuring things out.

The Pelicans, thanks to a disastrous second quarter and a hot-shooting night from Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, came crashing back down to earth Monday night with a 121-98 blowout loss at Mortgage Matchup Center.

“It’s below our standard of where we want to be,” said Pelicans’ coach Willie Green. 

The Pelicans (2-8) have lost four games by at least 20 points this season. They trailed by as many as 32 in this one.

“We have to be better starting on the defensive end,” Green said. “That’s where it all starts. Our aggression on the defensive end. Our communication on the defensive end.” 

Typically, it’s Suns’ guard Devin Booker who torches the Pelicans. Booker came in averaging 38.3 points in his last seven games against the Pelicans. That included three straight games when the Moss Point (Miss.) High graduate scored 50-plus points. This time it was Allen who lit up the Pels. Allen scored a career-high 42 points, including 10-of-15 on 3-pointers. The 10 3-pointers was also a career high. 

“If we can’t guard, now you’re relying on scoring the whole game,” Green said. “And that’s going to be a difficult game for us.”

Allen made just as many 3-pointers as the entire Pelicans’ team (10-of-32). The Suns, who improved to 6-5, made 19 3-pointers.

Booker finished with 19 points. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter. There was no need to after the Suns built a 30-point lead (73-43) in the third.

The Pelicans committed six turnovers in the first quarter and trailed 29-22. Then the game got away from them in the second quarter when the Suns outscored the Pels 35-19. The quarter included a 22-5 Phoenix run.

Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. It was Murphy’s second double double of the season. Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Fears scored 15 points each. Bey also grabbed seven rebounds. Derik Queen came off the bench and had 12 points and six rebounds.

The Pelicans begin a 5-game home stand Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. After that, they host the Los Angeles Lakers (Friday), Golden State Warriors (Sunday), Oklahoma City Thunder (Monday) and Denver Nuggets (Wednesday).