Suns at Pelicans
The Phoenix Suns possess the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference as they open a three-game road trip with Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Suns have a one-game lead over ninth-place Memphis and the visit to New Orleans represents the easy leg of an excursion that includes games at San Antonio and Dallas. The Pelicans have lost five consecutive games and are buried in the basement of the Southwest Division.
New Orleans standout Anthony Davis is dealing with back issues while trying to make it through the final five games of the season. The Pelicans are vulnerable inside whenever Davis doesn’t play and stand 0-3 against Phoenix this season, allowing an average of 107 points. The Suns play four of their final five games on the road as they attempt to land a playoff spot after being forecasted as one of the worst teams in the league prior to the season. Phoenix also has a chance to pass seventh-place Dallas down the stretch should the Mavericks falter.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE SUNS (46-31): Backup guard Gerald Green is in the midst of another hot streak with an average of 28 points over the last two games, including a 24-point effort in Sunday’s 122-115 victory over Oklahoma City. Green is 9-of-14 from 3-point range and 19-of-31 shooting overall during the stretch to increase his season average to 15.8 points. The sharpshooter has made four or more 3-pointers 22 times this season as he opens up the floor for athletic guards Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. The Suns are 16-7 when he scores 20 or more points.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (32-45): Davis is averaging 20.8 points, 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots but is clearly laboring due to the injury. His averages over the last four games are a pedestrian 12.8 points and 5.5 boards, well below his All-Star standards. “As a leader of the team, I want to be on the floor and try to win every game no matter if we’re going to the playoffs or not,” Davis told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. “I want to make sure that we compete and I feel like I need to be on the floor.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns are attempting to sweep New Orleans for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.
2. Phoenix shot a season-best 58.4 percent from the field against Oklahoma City and F P.J. Tucker made four 3-pointers while scoring a career-high 22 points.
3. Pelicans SG Eric Gordon (knee) has missed the last nine games and is unlikely to return this season.