Suns at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans try to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they host the surging Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. All-Star Anthony Davis led the way with 20 points and 18 rebounds while Ryan Anderson scored 30 as the Pelicans knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 104-90 on Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
“I thought we were aggressive from the start,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “I thought we made good decisions. I thought we played at a pace that we like to play at.” The Pelicans will need a similar effort against the Suns, who have won four of their last five games after a 114-107 victory over Denver on Friday. Phoenix guard Brandon Knight comes in off a career-best 38 points and has posted at least 30 in three of the last five games. New Orleans won two of three against the Suns last season, including both at home.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix) FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE SUNS (7-5): Phoenix roared back from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Denver on Friday with improved defense, holding the Nuggets to 35.7 percent in the final two quarters. Eric Bledsoe (22.8 points) and Knight (21.9) form one of the top-scoring backcourts in the league and have combined to average almost 11 assists. Mirza Teletovic is averaging 10.8 points over the past four games after a slow start and fellow power forward Markieff Morris struggled the last two games, totaling only 15.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (2-11): Point guard Ish Smith has stepped up his play in the last three games, averaging 16 points and nine assists. “I’m a pass first point guard,” Smith told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “But (Davis) has been getting on me to shoot the ball. I just got to keep working and get more consistent. Hopefully, I can keep that aggressive mindset.” Davis is averaging 22.4 points and 9.4 rebounds to lead the team in each category while Anderson (18.5 points) and guard Eric Gordon (18.4) have been productive.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Phoenix F T.J. Warren, who is averaging 10.6 points overall, was limited to 11 minutes and zero points Friday after returning from a one-game absence due to illness.
2. New Orleans PF Dante Cunningham is 7-for-23 from 3-point range this season after coming into 2015-16 just 2-for-38 from beyond the arc in his career.
3. Gentry coached the Suns for parts of five seasons from 2009-2013 and went 158-144.