NEW ORLEANS – Every NBA season has nights that quietly define how a team sees itself, and this is one of those nights for the Phoenix Suns. After getting done dealing with their toughest stretch of the season, Phoenix now has to deal with this Pelicans team that is a night and day difference from when the Suns originally faced them.
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Nov 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
New Orleans has been rolling lately. Four straight victories in their building have turned Smoothie King Center into a place where opponents feel rushed before the opening tip. Not only that, but the Pelicans have won five of their last six games. Phoenix arrives without Grayson Allen, removing spacing and secondary shot creation from the rotation. That absence doesn’t just affect lineups; it clarifies responsibility. When the Suns are stripped down, the offense narrows. That’s where Devin Booker becomes less an option and more a requirement and a necessity for Phoenix’s offense to get established.
Nov 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) celebrates with Devin Booker after being pulled from the game after setting the franchise record for three pointers in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Booker has long treated New Orleans like a proving ground. His scoring spikes here aren’t about volume alone; they’re about control. He slows the game, hunts mismatches, and forces defenses into choices they don’t want to make. For a Suns team that can drift when possessions fragment, Booker’s presence becomes psychological ballast. It has been known that Booker enjoys playing there, especially with all of the success he has had in the past.
Feb 28, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
For Suns fans, this matchup matters beyond one night. It’s about whether Phoenix can still dictate terms against a confident opponent on the road. It’s about whether star-driven teams can bend momentum without full depth. It’s also about having trust, trust that when variables change, the constants still hold.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
