The Phoenix Suns (46-31, 6th in Western Conference) go for their fourth-straight win this afternoon against the New Orleans Pelicans (45-32, 7th in Western Conference) in their third matchup of a four-game homestand.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A win over New Orleans could place Phoenix, who has handedly won the first two meetings between the teams, two games ahead of the Pelicans for the sixth seed in the West, which would be out of the play in with only four games to go. The Suns also have the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans, so if the Suns win, they would have to lose all of their remaining games and the Pelicans win theirs to be surpassed, which is inherently pretty unlikely.
Currently, the Suns are on a three-game win streak, while New Orleans is on a four-game losing streak. Phoenix allowed a season low in points to the Timberwolves Friday in a 97-87 victory.
On top of all of these factors, the Pelicans will be facing even more of an uphill battle in terms of injuries.
Comparatively, the Suns only have Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) listed on the injury report as out tomorrow. Lee has missed the entire season with the injury and if he is to return this season, it won’t be until the playoffs.
These two teams last met on Monday in New Orleans, a 124-111 Phoenix victory behind 52 points from Devin Booker, Booker’s third-straight game with more than 50 points against New Orleans.
Even with the standings implications, coach Frank Vogel isn’t looking at this game any different than the lassst few Phoenix hass splayed.
“I think it was about 14-15 games left where we said, ‘Hey this is the playoffs before the playoffs. Every game is our most important game of the season.’ And that’s no different (against New Orleans),” Vogel said.
With only five games left, the Suns will continue to treat every game this way.
“Definitely still more business to take care of,” Vogel said. “Every team we play in the final five is an elite team, in my opinion. And we’re going to have to be at our best to be them.”
Local Game Information
Start Time: 3:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center
TV Channel: AZ Family/3TV
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 7, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -6.5
O/U:Â 222.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
New Orleans Pelicans:Â C.J. McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson/Dyson Daniels, Jonas Valanciunas
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Limiting turnovers
- Defense leading to offense
- Ball movement
- Riding the hot hand
- Not overlooking opponent
Prediction
Suns 127 – Pelicans 108
This could be a trap game for Phoenix given the recent struggles and injury concerns for New Orleans, but the Suns have to treat this game as the most important of the season especially given the standings implications. They have already shown they have the Pelicans number this season, it’s just a matter of not letting that get to their head. If the Suns can continue their level of focus they have shown over this three-game win streak, this will be another easy win, which I foresee. It would also be a treat to see Devin Booker scorch the Pelicans again.
Last Meeting (April 1, 2024)
Devin Booker erupts for 52 points, Suns beat Pelicans 124-111
Team Matchup Notes
Everything to know about the Suns and Pelicans before their third and final meeting this season (via Suns):
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Watch: Video from Yesterday’s Practice
Watch: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal at Suns practice on April, 6 2024
Preview: Injury report
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
