The Phoenix Suns can’t afford to lose games against inferior Western Conference opponents.
Who: Phoenix Suns (27-32) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (16-43)
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: PHX Arenas — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: AZFamily, Suns Live
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are looking to respond from their 124-116 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
The Suns have lost 10 of their last 12 games. On Friday, the Suns must find a way to get off to a fast start. They were down by 18 points before they went on a second-quarter run to take a halftime lead.
Phoenix was in the news for the wrong reason on Friday. According to Chris Haynes, Devin Booker, one of the Suns’ leaders, was told to be less vocal on the court and in timeouts by coach Mike Budenholzer.
MUST LISTEN Devin Booker as frustrated as I’ve ever heard him after a game…. “Things get tough and we get quiet as a team.. at some point you got to draw a line.. should’ve been drawn a long time ago… I always look at myself first, but I also talk a lot.” @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/BVpJxShrJv
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) February 28, 2025
The Suns need their star to be his normal self to beat the Pels.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Cody Martin — OUT (Sports Hernia)
Pelicans
- Brandon Boston — OUT (Left Ankle)
- Bruce Brown — OUT (Return to Competition Reconditioning)
- Herb Jones — OUT (Right Shoulder; Torn Rotator Cuff)
- Dejounte Murray — OUT (Right Achilles; Rupture)
- Kelly Olynyk — OUT (Rest)
Uniform Matchup
What to Watch For
The Suns’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. As of Friday, Phoenix is the No. 11 seed, trailing the Sacramento Kings for the final play-in spot by 3 1⁄2 games.
Ryan Dunn may not be the answer for the Suns’ bad stretch, but he will be a part of their future. Phoenix may need to move toward it since it is struggling mightily against inferior competition.
The good news is that there is another game to play.
Key to a Suns Win
Find Some Rhythm
There are plenty of reasons why fans should not watch this Suns team. Phoenix is failing to win games it should, and now it is struggling to make the NBA play-in despite having three talented scorers, Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.
Phoenix can’t go back and try to win its past games. It has to accept that it is in a bad spot, and the only way to turn things around is by playing and finding an early rhythm.
New Orleans might not be a great team — it is still 27 games below .500 — but Zion Williamson is a matchup that Phoenix can’t defend. The only way to beat him is to take him out of the game early and find some transition buckets.
Booker and Durant took 52 shots on Thursday, which is staggering. The Suns’ bench went 2-of-10 from 3-point range, so they needed to pick up the scoring.
The Suns only attempted 10 free throws and shot 53 3-pointers on Thursday against a less athletic team. If they don’t get to the basket, they will struggle.
Prediction
The Suns held themselves accountable for last night’s loss. Their stars, Durant and Booker, each said the things they need to.
When is it going to happen?
If the Suns lose back-to-back games at home against New Orleans, that might be the final straw for the few still engaged and believing. If Beal is back, I don’t think that will happen.
Suns 115, Pelicans 114
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