Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Pelicans Game 6 Betting Preview
The Phoenix Suns did not expect this much of a battle in their first round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Suns came into the postseason with the best record in the NBA and were expected to breeze through a series against a team that had to win two games in the play-in tournament just to get to this series.
Instead, the Suns head to New Orleans, clinging to a 3-2 series lead after the teams have alternated wins and losses in all five games of this series. New Orleans is a young team that seems to be wearing Phoenix down a bit, and their energy in Game 4 at home was absolutely electric.
Suns Need to End This
It’s not necessarily a do-or-die game for Phoenix, considering they do have the 3-2 series lead and, even with a loss, would host Game 7 back at the Footprint Center, where they were 32-9 during the regular season. That being said, the Suns have championship aspirations, and any extra matchups they play, such as a potential Game 7, wear them down a bit as the postseason goes on.
Chris Paul would love to get this series over with, as he’s being harassed by the Pelicans’ effervescent rookie Jose Alvarado. Paul was hunched over with his hands on his knees at the half of Game 5 and even deferred to teammates to bring the ball up the court in the 4th quarter of that contest.
Pelicans Not Backing Down
The Suns thought they would roll through this series – and losing Devin Booker didn’t help things by any means – but New Orleans has shown they are here to battle. Things have gotten chippy at times over the previous five games, but rookies Alvarado and Herbert Jones have not only stood their ground but dished the dirt back right at Paul and the other Suns’ players.
Aside from their never-back-down attitude, one of the major reasons the Pelicans are within striking distance of tying up this series has been the play of Brandon Ingram.
He went for 30+ in Games 2, 3, and 4 and is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this series. CJ McCollum has added 20+ points in four of the five games, while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 15.6 rebounds this series.
Suns/Pelicans Pick and Prediction
The Suns look vulnerable, perhaps more so than they have at any point this season. Booker is out, Paul looks old, and the Suns’ combo of Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee cannot keep Valanciunas off the boards.
The Suns did get a win in hostile territory in Game 3, picking up the 114-111 victory at the Smoothie King Center. A lot has changed in the last two games, though, most notably the Pelicans getting the confidence that they can win this series and Phoenix getting more fatigued.
With alternating wins and losses over the first five games, it’s New Orleans’ turn for the victory back at home. Take Pelicans moneyline.
