Suns-Pelicans Showdown: Playoff Implications and Injury Concerns

High Stakes

[{"selector":"#anim-a7476740-835a-45f1-ae93-64a5afa2a451 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(55.67129618252202%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb0319be-48d3-4279-a10f-be9ac7589ad6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2e67d6d-0c2c-4787-bb54-9448ca595ff7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9845eddf-c90d-4965-bd79-6edb040839c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5251f6ac-2f15-4309-93ca-ec8f065c6448","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8a1708a-769d-4440-b821-ed9dec1c877b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38e1f7f9-3a2c-4f03-b8ac-5faf31c03d7d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 295.42462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Must-win situation for both Phoenix Suns (46-31) and New Orleans Pelicans (45-30) in their upcoming matchup. Image -Getty images

Playoff Positioning

[{"selector":"#anim-6330aa63-03c3-4339-bbe5-36938f19396b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d913312e-329f-463a-96cd-0ff4809efab4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 271.89519%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9520142f-1924-4978-9b43-d1af8027f4c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de020890-dbff-416f-8d02-cbce3f71cb9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b7fe0e5-40e6-46c3-8a81-b9b52158d330","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f22e1da5-6a5f-4cd6-92be-dd5caa36d9c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a04f3846-be70-4d5b-a7b2-5357acaa8aca [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.79166655289239%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Suns aim to secure the sixth seed in the West, currently holding a two-game lead over the Pelicans. Image -Getty images

Tiebreaker Advantage

[{"selector":"#anim-311e9199-42eb-4d57-860d-349f933b0c93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(45.59970420474656%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a356244-7ec5-4158-99a4-23eb83e2e68d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3796befd-4239-488a-a602-0ef4e2ed339e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbea0f8e-dd83-42f3-aa1b-364bd484cb87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d2ceca3-4399-4e42-ad0b-6b1a0d5e9a4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91792899-1556-4cf3-9415-af63a6e12ce0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9da4bffe-a609-47c7-8aec-5b61116f2dd8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Phoenix holds the tiebreaker advantage over New Orleans, making it difficult for the Pelicans to surpass them. Image -Getty images

Win Streak vs. Lose Streak

[{"selector":"#anim-e0f20d7e-f773-4813-b48c-18d2c149d477 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(42.96874987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52050cc4-fd87-4762-86f3-39dda110522d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fa1e239-27f4-4250-af9c-3ec8df5243f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbcc54b4-2593-4f80-b777-3f63c3493a3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07d2f37a-a657-4628-b93f-d48c5163ec03","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15eb91da-1306-41ae-b073-0970b26f34c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-145c7179-fa34-45bc-a22d-4754b34b086d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 342.48349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Suns enter the game on a three-game win streak, while Pelicans are on a four-game losing streak. Image -Getty images

Injury Concerns

[{"selector":"#anim-c052754e-7ca6-409c-ac65-f92820646528 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-117fc106-7130-4efd-bd08-dfe882658568","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42427476-9008-41d6-81f9-b4f284ccb156","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8c14035-66eb-4a72-8162-a349983ba5d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89af64ef-6767-40e0-9ff1-a04c702c8b98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-244490cc-8775-4d38-ab2a-37ca6a06b7d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 377.77782%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Pelicans face injury challenges with Ingram sidelined and Williamson's status uncertain. Image -Getty images Learn more

Roster Health

[{"selector":"#anim-ba52ddfb-0dd0-4a4b-a0e9-5a4c1ceb3c81 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(53.64583320533729%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f47df117-ff46-48bc-b1ae-5a041d524a63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaa466ad-6305-4fe4-b3e7-8144592e81f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71a2b527-c466-4dc5-8a71-7b81f0be0e1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5592b252-def9-440e-9b22-60bf28ed5d21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b047aacd-7c6e-41f5-b395-1fef811643c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e61dfc6-3049-4c7c-9871-48a21ec4aecf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 313.07179%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Suns have a relatively healthier roster with only Damion Lee listed as out for tomorrow's game. Image -Getty images Learn more