Offense meets defense when the Phoenix Suns (17-12, 12-3 Home) play host to the New Orleans Pelicans (18-10, 6-7 Away) on Saturday. New Orleans was edged out by the Utah Jazz 132-129 in overtime at Vivint Arena on Thursday.
With 31 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, Zion Williamson was a top performer in the losing effort. The Pelicans are trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by one game in the Western Conference, currently sitting in second.
Phoenix triumphed on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 111-95. Mikal Bridges had 27 points, carrying the team. The Suns are fourth in the Western Conference, 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
This is the last meeting of the season between the teams. Phoenix will be looking to split the season series after taking only one of the three prior matchups. New Orleans won the most recent showdown 129-124 in overtime at Smoothie King Center on Sunday.
Williamson led the Pelicans with 35 points and eight rebounds. Deandre Ayton had 28 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in the losing effort. The Pels have been led this season by Williamson, who is averaging 25.3 points per game, best in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas is grabbing 9.1 rebounds per game, most in the league, and CJ McCollum is dishing 5.6 assists (1st).Devin Booker’s 26.9 points per game have powered the Suns on offense. He is the top scorer in the league. Booker also has tallied 5.8 assists per game, most in the NBA. Ayton has averaged 9.1 rebounds per game.
The Pelicans are the NBA’s third-best team in defensive efficiency, while the Suns rank fourth in offensive efficiency. The Suns have had the advantage in the Pelicans’ last 10 visits to Footprint Center, winning six.
New Orleans is 7-3 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +3.2 (117.0-113.8). Phoenix has a 4-6 record over the last 10, scoring 116.6 points per game on average while allowing 116.5 (+0.1 margin). The Suns are averaging 115.3 ppg for the full season while allowing 110.7.
PELICANS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Naji Marshall: 19.4 | 13.4 | +6.0
Jose Alvarado: 10.3 | 14.9 | -4.6
Points per game:
Trey Murphy III: 8.8 | 12.3 | -3.5
Rebounds per game:
Larry Nance Jr.: 8.2 | 5.8 | +2.4
Assists per game:
CJ McCollum: 4.0 | 5.6 | -1.6
SUNS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Devin Booker: 23.3 | 37.4 | -14.1
Points per game:
Devin Booker: 15.0 | 26.9 | -11.9
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Phoenix Suns (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
