The New Orleans Pelicans will compete against the Phoenix Suns in NBA action on Thursday evening.
New Orleans is currently focused on acquiring Cooper Flagg, and my predictions for the Pelicans versus Suns anticipate another subpar defensive performance this evening.
Presenting my optimal complimentary NBA selections for the Western Conference clash on February 27.
Prediction for the Pelicans against Suns matchup
My optimal choice
Over 121.5 total points for the Suns team (-120 at bet365)
My assessment
The Phoenix Suns return to Arizona for their inaugural home game since February 11. The Suns never have their Big Three fully assembled, although Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are fit, while Bradley Beal’s status remains uncertain, likely resulting in an explosive offensive display tonight.
Phoenix recently suffered a 151-148 overtime defeat to Memphis, having scored 137 points in regulation against a formidable defense. Durant, Booker, and Beal each scored over 20 points in that game, with Bol Bol and sixth-man Grayson Allen also reaching the 20-point threshold.
The Suns had been performing at a Bottom-10 pace for the majority of the season, although they have exhibited the fourth-fastest tempo in the league during their final six games. Currently, the New Orleans Pelicans have exhibited the third-fastest tempo in the league over the past 15 games, and this, coupled with inadequate defensive performance, constitutes a formula for catastrophe this evening.
The Pelicans are 28th in the NBA for defensive rating and 26th in scoring defense, permitting an average of 118.6 points per game. They do even more poorly on the road, conceding 120.2 points per game with a league-worst effective field goal percentage of 56.5%.
They have lately lost their two premier defenders, Dejounte Murray and Herbert Jones, to season-ending injuries and have granted a night off to their best remaining perimeter defender, Bruce Brown.
The Pelicans have recently concluded three games in which they permitted little points. Nonetheless, those games were contested against the Spurs, who are without Victor Wembanyama, and the Mavericks in the post-Luka Doncic era. They will not achieve comparable success against Durant and his team.
The Pelicans have particularly faltered in defending isolation plays and are ranked 28th in three-pointers permitted per game (14.5). This presents an advantageous matchup for Durant, who is fifth in the league for points per possession on isolation plays and averages 2.4 three-pointers per game at a 40% success rate.
Although I anticipate the Suns to score prolifically, they currently rank 27th in defensive rating and are likely to concede several points as well.
This is expected to result in another significant performance by Pelicans guard Trey Murphy, whose ball-handling responsibilities have increased following Murray’s injury. Murphy just recorded four assists against the Spurs, however he surpassed 4.5 assists in his preceding seven games.
