by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Where to watch: BSNO, BSAZ
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Suns -7; Suns -290, Pelicans +230
BetMGM: Suns -7.5; Suns -303, Pelicans +240
Caesars: NL
Season record
Suns: 28-8 (2nd place, West)
Pelicans: 13-24 (14th place, West)
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Suns - Pelicans preview and analysis
Recent form
Suns: won 133-99 at Hornets on Sunday
Pelicans: lost 115-104 vs. Jazz on Monday
The Phoenix Suns aren't fully healthy yet, but don't tell that to how they handled business against the Charlotte Hornets the other night.
But they're getting close, and the Suns will try to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when they face the New Orleans Pelicans coming off a double-digit loss on Monday.
The Suns are coming off a 34-point win against the Hornets on Sunday in what was a semi-shocking result. The Hornets had been on a 3-game winning streak and appeared to turn the corner in some consistency to their season.
But Phoenix looked like a well-oiled machine despite another game without Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder anchoring the defense. Devin Booker had 24 points and seven rebounds, and last year's first-round pick Jalen Smith had a career night of 19 points and 12 rebounds in place of Ayton.
"This was all you can ask for, especially after you just took it on the chin against Boston," acting Suns coach Kevin Young said. "Sometimes as a coach in your heart you feel like you are doing the right thing and you think it's going to resonate, and when it does come to fruition it's rewarding."
The Suns have gone 2-3 in their last five since Christmas, but it's helped that Booker has returned and has picked up the slack with Ayton going on the COVID list. But it's hard to stop that backcourt of Booker and Chris Paul when they're cooking with gas.
And it helps that the Suns get a tired Pelicans team at home after New Orleans was put through a battle with the Utah Jazz, losing by 11 despite Jonas Valanciunas being the leading scorer at 25 points and nine rebounds and Brandon Ingram scoring just 10 points on 3 of 18 shooting.
"We're still shuffling lineups right now with guys being out, but I thought, for the most part, we competed," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "We played hard. We came up short because we're rusty and we've got to make shots against this team."
The Phoenix Suns aren't fully healthy yet, but don't tell that to how they handled business against the Charlotte Hornets the other night.
But they're getting close, and the Suns will try to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when they face the New Orleans Pelicans coming off a double-digit loss on Monday.
The Suns are coming off a 34-point win against the Hornets on Sunday in what was a semi-shocking result. The Hornets had been on a 3-game winning streak and appeared to turn the corner in some consistency to their season.
But Phoenix looked like a well-oiled machine despite another game without Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder anchoring the defense. Devin Booker had 24 points and seven rebounds, and last year's first-round pick Jalen Smith had a career night of 19 points and 12 rebounds in place of Ayton.
"This was all you can ask for, especially after you just took it on the chin against Boston," acting Suns coach Kevin Young said. "Sometimes as a coach in your heart you feel like you are doing the right thing and you think it's going to resonate, and when it does come to fruition it's rewarding."
The Suns have gone 2-3 in their last five since Christmas, but it's helped that Booker has returned and has picked up the slack with Ayton going on the COVID list. But it's hard to stop that backcourt of Booker and Chris Paul when they're cooking with gas.
And it helps that the Suns get a tired Pelicans team at home after New Orleans was put through a battle with the Utah Jazz, losing by 11 despite Jonas Valanciunas being the leading scorer at 25 points and nine rebounds and Brandon Ingram scoring just 10 points on 3 of 18 shooting.
"We're still shuffling lineups right now with guys being out, but I thought, for the most part, we competed," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "We played hard. We came up short because we're rusty and we've got to make shots against this team."
Prediction
The over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in New Orleans, which tends to sway well toward the team that has the more consistent scoring options. I like the way Phoenix has found balance with its stars while the young guys get some shine. Suns by 12
Betting trends
The Suns are 8-2 ATS this season following a non-conference game.
The Suns are 45-25 ATS over the past three seasons after winning two of three.
The Pelicans are 10-6 ATS at home this season.
Projected starting lineup
Suns:
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Devin Booker
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Cameron Johnson
C: Jalen Smith
SF: Mikal Bridges
PF: Cameron Johnson
C: Jalen Smith
Pelicans:
PG: Devonte' Graham
SG: Brandon Ingram
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas
Key injuries
Suns: COVID -- Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee
Pelicans: Zion Williamson (foot, out)
Suns: COVID -- Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee
Pelicans: Zion Williamson (foot, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
