Pelicans-Suns Preview
The Phoenix Suns turned in arguably their worst performance of the season without their top player.
Even though Eric Bledsoe could be sidelined again, they hope they'll be better prepared for their second matchup in a span of four days with the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Phoenix (7-7) has dropped three of four, capping a three-game trip with Monday's 98-84 loss at San Antonio. The Suns came in averaging 106.5 points, but were held to a season low in points, and their 28 turnovers were the second-most in the NBA this season.
Bledsoe, who leads the team with 23.2 points, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game, sat out due to a sore left knee and is questionable for this contest.
The Suns play at the league's second-fastest pace, but they were too careless against the Spurs, who scored 27 points off Phoenix's turnovers. The last three opponents have combined for 74 points off turnovers.
"I don't know what we were doing just handing the ball, soft passes," coach Jeff Hornacek said. "Even when we tried to lob it over, the passes were like five feet short of where it's supposed to go. That's hard to overcome."
Carelessness was also a major issue in Sunday's 122-116 loss at New Orleans, Phoenix's third defeat in four meetings. The Pelicans recorded 25 points off turnovers and Anthony Davis scored 32 points, while Ryan Anderson added 29.
Bledsoe totaled 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists and went 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in the loss. The Suns hit 17 of 36 from beyond the arc, but they converted only 33.3 percent of their 2-point attempts while being outscored 44-22 in the paint.
"We have to shoot better than that in the paint if we want to win," Hornacek said.
That was the second straight win for the Pelicans (3-11) who also claimed a 14-point win over the Spurs on Friday.
Davis also had 19 rebounds and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of Sunday's victory. He's averaging an NBA-best 9.8 points in the fourth quarter while shooting 64.4 percent.
"He invites those situations," coach Alvin Gentry said. "I like the fact that he wanted the ball in crunch time. As I've said all along, I think we're going to be a good team. We've made some progress. Obviously we've got a long, long way to go, but I do like the intensity that we're playing with."
Davis, who has missed three games due to injuries, is averaging 31.2 points and 3.0 blocks over the last four games in which he's played at least 20 minutes.
Anderson is also playing extremely well, averaging 28.3 points on 55.8 percent shooting over his last four contests while going 15 for 32 from 3-point range.
New Orleans is 0-7 on the road, joining Philadelphia as the league's only other club without a win away from home.
This is the first of two straight home games for the Suns before they embark on a season-high six-game trip. They host first-place Golden State on Friday.
Phoenix has last four of its last five home games against the Pelicans.