Phoenix Suns Set to Battle New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center
As the Phoenix Suns prepare to face off against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from a recent string of challenging games. The Suns' performance has been a rollercoaster, with their record standing at 15 wins and 15 losses following their last game on December 26, 2023, where they fell short against the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 114-128.
The upcoming game is crucial for Phoenix as they aim to climb above .500. Despite their recent loss where they trailed for over 40 minutes and led for just under seven minutes, there were positive takeaways. The Suns showcased an ability to draw fouls effectively and capitalized on those opportunities by shooting an impressive 80 percent from the free-throw line. Their bench also contributed significantly with 30 points.
However, turnovers have been a thorn in Phoenix's side; they gave up possession 16 times in that game which translated into only nine points off turnovers compared to Dallas' more efficient conversion rate resulting in 22 points. This area will need tightening up if they're going to outmaneuver the Pelicans.
Looking back further at their December 23rd encounter with Sacramento Kings reveals similar issues: despite scoring well in paint (58 points) and having solid bench production (40 points), turnovers (15) and a low three-point percentage (20 percent) hindered them from taking control of the game which ended with another loss of 105-120.
In contrast, when examining their performance during their victory over Portland Trail Blazers on December 20th – where they led for nearly half of the match – it's evident that when Phoenix controls possession and maximizes fast-break opportunities (87.5 percent success rate), they can dominate even while shooting modestly from beyond the arc (21.7 percent).
The key takeaway here is consistency; maintaining control of possession while exploiting fast-break chances could be decisive factors against New Orleans.
The PS will need all cylinders firing come January 20th when facing NOP who will have home-court advantage. It's imperative that PS tighten up defensively while continuing aggressive play in drawing fouls and converting them into valuable free throws.
Fans should mark their calendars for this pivotal matchup scheduled on January 20th at Smoothie King Center starting at sharp eight PM Central Time Zone. The action can be caught live on AZFamily network channel or BSNO depending on your locale – don't miss what promises to be an enthralling contest!