Suns at Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are sliding in the wrong direction with five straight losses and will try to end the skid on Saturday, when they host the Phoenix Suns. New Orleans is 2-0 against the Suns this season with an average winning margin of 17 points and has captured the last eight meetings between the clubs.
All-Star Anthony Davis was rested for Friday's 122-110 home loss to Portland and power forward Julius Randle took advantage by scoring a career-best 45 points on 20-of-34 shooting. "I thought he played with great force," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of Randle. "He attacked the rim. All night, he was playing against double- and triple-teams. He did a great job of getting the ball into position to score." Phoenix suffered a 108-102 setback at Houston on Friday and has lost back-to-back games after winning five of its previous seven. The Suns are tied for the fewest wins in franchise history with 12 games remaining, with the 16-66 record being posted in the club's first season of operation in 1968-69.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS New Orleans
ABOUT THE SUNS (16-54): Devin Booker continues to be a bright spot as he scored 29 points against Houston for his 11th straight 20-point performance. Booker has recorded 30 or more points three times and is averaging 27.8 during the streak. Rookie center Deandre Ayton collected 17 points and 14 rebounds in the loss to the Rockets as he strongly bounced back from a horrible effort versus Utah on Wednesday, when he scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting while going up against reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
ABOUT THE PELICANS (30-41): Elfrid Payton recorded 14 points, a career-best 16 assists and 12 rebounds against Portland to become the first player in franchise history to notch three straight triple-doubles. "I think it's kind of special," Payton told reporters of the record. "It's just unfortunate we didn't win any of those games. I guess it's cool." While Payton is on a roll, no one on the club is hotter than Randle, who has topped 20 points in eight of his last nine games and is averaging 27.4 during the stretch.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Randle averaged 22 points and nine rebounds in this season's two wins over the Suns.
2. Phoenix G Tyler Johnson (knee) likely will miss his second straight game.
3. Gentry said he doesn't expect PG Jrue Holiday (abdomen) or SG E'Twaun Moore (quadriceps) to return this season.