PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns (27-31) are on the search for any glimmer of hope as they host the New Orleans Pelicans for a back-to-back at PHX Arena as they try to turn the season around.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here is what we’re hearing from Downtown Phoenix ahead of Thursday’s matchup:
Injury report
Bradley Beal (left calf tightness) is out. Coach Mike Budenholzer said pregame that the three-time All-Star didn’t specifically injure the calf, but that it was a result of normal wear and tear of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Cody Martin (sports hernia) and Monte Morris (low back spasms) are also out.
For New Orleans, Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), Kelly Olynyk (rest), Herb Jones (torn rotator cuff), Bruce Brown (return to competition reconditioning) and Brandon Boston (left ankle sprain) are all out.
Pregame quotes
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer
On David Fizdale’s relationship with Bol Bol and his performance lately:
“I think it’s the work that’s been going on every day. I think, Bol and Coach Fizdale, or Fizz, as we call him, they’re enjoying, I think, the work that they put in. Fizz has a great energy, a toughness, that I think that Bol appreciates and it’s this league; you’re probably going to get a chance at some point and Bol is taking advantage of it so, Bol has done a great job, Fizz has done a great job and we need Bol to play well tonight and get after it.”
On what it would take to get Ryan Dunn to get into the rotation from nine players being played to ten:
“I mean at nine, I think we got several guys, obviously (Devin) Booker and KD (Kevin Durant) and Brad (Beak) that eat up a lot of minutes and then it’s finding minutes for everybody else and rhythm. There’s probably a certain amount of time or stretch that guys are normal, or you can get the best out of them so, just getting to 10 (players) can be tricky, that between nine and 10, but again, we’ve kind of played Ryan, I think, the first half last couple games, and we know he can help us. We know that he can impact the game in a good way. I think we’ll keep pushing that envelope.”
On capturing the hustle and effort from the first half of the Memphis game for future games:
“I think the game had an energy to it, the atmosphere, the guys competed at a high level, they were scrambling. There was the stuff you described, that the extra effort, those kinds of things we need, that you know every team needs it. So, I think you’re always striving and pushing for that and we’ll continue to do that tonight.”
Full pregame availability from @Suns coach Mike Budenholzer ahead of their matchup against Pelicans. #SunsUp #NBA #Pelicans pic.twitter.com/n0fiFjzKDo
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Pelicans Coach Willie Green
On what tonight looks like with 10 available guys:
“Yeah, guys are excited about the opportunity to step on the floor against a good team. It’s going to be a highly competitive game on both ends, and we look forward to seeing some of our young guys get on the floor and get after it.”
On stopping an offense like Phoenix’s:
“Yeah, it’s game plan discipline. We make guys take tough shots, they can score, they’re proven in this league. But we have to outwork these guys, we have to out compete. Have to be really detailed with our game plan execution, and don’t allow them to dictate the flow of the game, and that’s going to be key tonight.”
On how you can try to take away the mid-range:
“No, just make them take tough shots. We know that. You know, (Kevin) Durant and (Devin) Booker can get to their spots, they can pull up, they can shoot over the top of guys. So just make it tough for them.”
Starting lineups
Phoenix Suns
- Tyus Jones
- Devin Booker
- Nick Richards
- Bol Bol
- Kevin Durant
New Orleans Pelicans
- CJ McCollum
- Trey Murphy III
- Yves Missi
- Karlo Matkovic
- Zion Williamson
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenoNBA, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
