NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS. PHOENIX SUNS EXPERT PICK – APRIL 7, 2024 — Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Total Apex Sports. One of the games on tap from today’s slate features the New Orleans Pelicans (45-32 SU, 40-35-2 ATS) taking on the Phoenix Suns (46-31 SU, 33-42-2 ATS).
Here is a look at how both squads have played coming into this matchup.
Tipoff
When: Sunday, April 7, 2024 @ 6:00 PM ET
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: AZ Family, WVUE
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns – Regular Season Stats & Trends
Can The Pelicans Overtake The Phoenix Suns For The No. 6 Spot Out West?
New Orleans Pelicans Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 115.0 PPG – 13TH
- Offensive Efficiency: 118.1 points per 100 possessions – 12TH
- Scoring Defense: 110.6 PPG – 8TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 113.6 points per 100 possessions – 4TH
The Pelicans have dipped to the No. 7 spot in the conference playoff race thanks to a 4-6 mark in their last 10 outings. They now face a good Phoenix Suns team. In their most recent setback – a 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night – CJ McCollum paced the team’s scoring attack with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Jonas Valanciunas added 26 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on 10-for-12 shooting from the floor. Trey Murphy III contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The Spurs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit largely because of their defensive effort in the second half. While McCollum scored 31 points, only 12 of them came in the second half on 5-for-17 shooting.
They started to pick him up a little bit,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after the game. “He missed some easy shots, but we’re asking CJ to do a lot right now.
New Orleans will need a solid effort from start to finish against a Phoenix Suns team seeking to strengthen its position in the conference standings.
Can The Phoenix Suns Hold On To The No. 6 Spot?
Phoenix Suns Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 116.6 PPG – 10TH
- Offensive Efficiency: 118.8 points per 100 possessions – 11TH
- Scoring Defense: 113.5 PPG – 15TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 115.7 points per 100 possessions – 13TH
The Phoenix Suns are going in the opposite direction despite having one of the most difficult stretches to close out the season. They have produced six wins in their last 10 decisions and enter this matchup amid a three-game winning streak.
This includes an impressive 97-87 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. All five starters scored in double figures spearheaded by 23 points from Grayson, who also converted four of his eight attempts from distance. He also accumulated eight boards and two steals.
Kevin Durant finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Devin Booker was limited to just 13 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field.
Phoenix held the second-seeded Timberwolves to 38.8 percent shooting and 34.5 percent from 3-point range. The 87 points were the fewest points the Suns have allowed this season. Not only that but it was also Minnesota’s lowest-scoring output of the season.
Can the Phoenix Suns continue its recent success, or will the short-handed Pelicans pull off the upset?
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