5 Games The Phoenix Suns Must Win To Keep Playoff Prayer Alive

Dec 30, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) rebounds over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) rebounds over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
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Phoenix Suns
Dec 30, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) rebounds over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. Apr. 10 — @ New Orleans Pelicans

But again, let’s not make this too complicated. At the end of the day, the Suns will need to beat the Pelicans twice over the next three weeks to have any shot at the postseason. A lot can happen between now and then. By this point in the season, the Suns could already be out of the race and playing Archie Goodwin and T.J. Warren 35 minutes a night.

But if by some miracle the Suns make it through this brutal upcoming stretch and are still in the hunt this late in the season, this game represents their make-or-break game much like the Memphis Grizzlies game did last year. The Pelicans will probably also still be fighting for a spot and this time around, they’ll have the home court advantage.

By Apr. 10, the Suns could very well be out of the playoff picture. Almost every game Phoenix plays over the next four weeks is brutally important, especially because the Suns don’t have a single “gimme” the rest of the way. But if the Suns somehow manage to fight over the next three weeks, this really will be the most important game of the 2014-15 season.

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