Suns look to Clip the Pelicans

Phoenix Suns (16-35) v New Orleans Pelicans (19-32)

Friday 2/3/2017 6pm
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM

Season Series – Series it Tied 1-1
All-Time Series – Phoenix leads 28-22
Last Matchup – December 11, 2016 New Orleans won 120-119 OT
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to the Milwaukee Bucks 137-112
Pelicans’ Last Game – Loss to the Washington Wizards 105-91
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 106.6 (11th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 112.6 (29th of 30)
Pelicans’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 103.2 (21st of 30) Opp PTS/G: 106.4 (23rd of 30)

Preview

After ending a five-game losing streak with a buzzer-beating bankshot by Devin Booker, the Suns failed to add to the momentum and were blown out in a near wire-to-wire defensiveless outing at home vs the Milwaukee Bucks. Allowing 45 points in the first quarter and 137 for the game to a team averaging 105 on the season was not only a blow in and of itself, but the fact that a spectacular 27 point 2nd quarter by Devin Booker was wasted too was a disappointment. For a full recap and some ineteresting stats regarding Phoenix’s porous defense, read here.

With only 6 games remaining before the All-Star break and trade deadline, Suns fans are still waiting for something to happen that will shake the team up, and possibly wrangle Phoenix a superstar. There is also draft implications should the Suns hold onto their first round pick this season as they are currently slated with the second worst record in the NBA. In this stretch, only two games will be against teams with winning records, Memphis, who recently blew the Suns out, and Houston, who has recently been struggling.

With their first one tonight, Phoenix plays New Orleans twice in that stretch, as well as the Chicago Bulls, who are currently a game below .500, and the Los Angeles Lakers, a team desperetly wants to try and stay out of the top-3 so they can retain their draft pick this offseason.

The Suns’ record against these teams this season? 2-5.

5 Important Stats

Phoenix Suns

1. Deven Booker is the only player in the league with at least two quarters scoring 27 points of more. However, he finished the game scoring 31 with a quarter scoring rate of 0-27-4-0. How in the world does a starting shooting guard, one who’s is leaned heavily on for scoring accomplish such a strange inconsistent scoring achievement?

2. The Phoenix defense is allowing 112.6 points per game, the worst since allowing 113.0 in 1987-88. This stat alone is slightly misleading as the team allowed 110.9 the year following. Meaning the Suns could cut their points allowed average by 1.6, and still be the worst in 29 years.

3. Speaking of defense, in their last five games, the Suns have allowed 121.5 points per game.

4. Phoenix, who early in the season held the league-lead in pace still remains fourth overall with 99.2 per game

5. Eric Bledsoe has had some cold moments this season, but he is feasting on certain teams. The New Orleans Pelicans are one of five teams this season that Bled is averaging a Minimum of 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

More from Valley of the Suns

New Orleans Pelicans

1. Currently on a four-game losing streak, the Pelicans have nOT broken 100 once in that streak, in regulation. Against Toronto on January 31, they lost while scoring 106, though they scored 10 points in the overtime.

2. Anothony Davis is having a career scoring and rebounding season averaging highs with 27.8 points and 12.2 rebounds.

3. This season the Suns are holding Davis to a meager 18 points and 11 rebounds. His 18 point average is his third lowest scoring average against any individual team.

4. The Suns are the league’s second most fouled team. In their two game six against Phoenix this season, New Orleans has fouled the Suns an average of 27 times. This is far and away their highest against any team they have faced this season.

5. New Orleans turns the ball over an average of 15.5 times this season against the Suns, above their season average. Their 15.5 is tied for second highest average for the Pelicans against any team who they have played at least twice. They averaged 16 against Brooklyn in their two game matchup.

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