Game: New Orleans Pelicans @ Phoenix Suns
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Pelicans +6.5, Suns -6.5
Total: 226
Beginning the 2022–23 NBA season, the Pelicans and Suns have each won three out of four games. On Tuesday night, New Orleans defeated Dallas by a score of 113-111. The Pelicans are an overtime basket from being unbeaten so far, but some early-season injury problems might get in the way of what could be a very promising start to the new season.
Phoenix beat Dallas 107-105 on the season’s opening night as well. The Suns have been remarkable, particularly in their demolition of the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Devin Booker scored 34 points to lead Phoenix, which shot 51.1 percent from the field, to a 134-105 victory. That came after a Sunday win over the Los Angeles Clippers by a margin of 17 points.
Booker is off to an amazing start for Phoenix. He has at least 28 points in each of his first four games and averages 32.5 points per game. Deandre Ayton has averaged 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Suns, who kept the star center this offseason by matching the Indiana Pacers’ offer sheet.
Phoenix is once again among the NBA’s top defensive teams. They are among the top ten in opponent field goal percentage, opponent three-point field goal percentage, and rebounding. They also rank fourth in terms of points allowed per game (104.5). The Pelicans, who are second in the NBA in scoring, will present a challenge for the Suns.
New Orleans scores an average of 122 points per game. The Pelicans have been shooting well from the field, hitting 39.2 percent from outside the three-point arc and 49.9 percent from the floor. Those numbers are seventh and second, respectively, in the NBA. The big question for the Pelicans is who will suit up tonight.
In their loss to Utah, the Pelicans lost both Zion Williamson and their leading scorer Brandon Ingram. Following a collision with another player, Ingram was placed in the league’s concussion protocol. Williamson hurt his hip after a violent fall on the court. In the victory over Dallas on Tuesday, neither Williamson nor Ingram played. Herbert Jones, who starts at forward for New Orleans, also didn’t participate.
Williamson, Jones, and Ingram are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game. Kira Lewis Jr. is also listed as questionable for the Pelicans. The Suns are healthy, but Jae Crowder is still out because he wants to be traded.
In their last ten games against the Pelicans, the Suns are 7-3 SU and ATS. This includes the 4-2 series victory in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last season. In their previous seven home games, the Suns have a 6-1 SU record. In their last nine games, they are just 3-6 ATS. Four of the Pelicans’ last six away games have seen them cover the spread.
All four of the Pelicans games this season have gone Over the total. The Over is 4-1 in the last five Pelicans-Suns games. The Under is 6-3 in the Suns’ last nine games.
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