Pelicans @ Suns 2-13-17

[Mainstreet]

The Pelicans visit the Suns tonight with a 7 p.m. Arizona start time. These teams have played some close games in their previous three meetings with the Pelicans winning two of them.

Here are some quotes from the ESPN Preview:

The Pelicans will be at a scheduling disadvantage in Monday's series finale. They will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, having lost 105-99 at Sacramento on Sunday night.

New Orleans (21-34) is in the midst of a key stretch in the schedule. After Monday, the Pelicans will play four consecutive games against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference playoff race.

It is possible New Orleans will face the Suns without prize rookie Buddy Hield, who was ejected from the Sunday game after striking Kings star DeMarcus Cousins with a low blow.

"Nothing was intentional," Hield said after the game. "DeMarcus sold it. Then on slow motion, it looks worse than it is."

I'm not sure about the status of Bledsoe and Chandler as of this writing.

If one is looking towards the lottery, the Suns could help themselves if they lost tonight and Wednesday's game against the Lakers before the All-Star break.

http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400900234

 

[slinslin]

very important tank games coming up

this false pride, we can't let the Lakers outtank us again and keep their pick again.

Last year we beat the Lakers a bunch of times, they simple outtanked us. Might happen again..

 

[leclerc]

Watson and Knight got us covered. I'm sure we'll loose. Now off course we're going to win. Sigh.

If there was justice in this world Ulis would play in front of Knight, or at least get more minutes than him, but that's not how Watson & co. operate.

 

[Ronin]

John Reid ‏@JohnReid64 39m39 minutes ago
Dante Cunningham (personal) out tonight vs. Suns. Terrence Jones (right thumb sprain) questionable.

 

[Ronin]

John Reid‏ @JohnReid64
Pelicans may want to rethink wearing those colorful all-red jerseys: When wearing red, Pels are 0-9 on the road and 1-11 overall.

 

[Ronin]

Doug Haller‏ @DougHaller
Suns update: C Tyson Chandler (ankle) expected back tonight. For New Orleans, F Terrence Jones (thumb) is out.

 

[Ronin]

Daniel Sallerson‏ @dsallerson
#Pelicans starters for tonight: Holiday, Hield, Hill, Ajinca, Davis.6:23 PM · Feb 13, 2017

 

[Mainstreet]

End of the 1st quarter:

Pelicans 29- Suns 28

Bledsoe is the leading scorer with 12 points.

 

[Mainstreet]

Len has 10 points and 3 rebounds in the 2nd quarter. He is playing aggressive tonight but so is Knight with 6 points and 2 assists.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bledsoe with a beautiful behind the back pass to Booker for a 3 point shot.

He now has 18 points and 3 assists.

Suns lead 55-44.

 

[Mainstreet]

Halftime:

Suns 58- Pelicans 53

 

[Mainstreet]

Bledsoe goes off tonight with 37 points.

Suns 108- Pelicans 107 with 50 seconds left.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Fun game. Bledsoe just hit a 3 to give us a 1 point lead, inside of a minute. Eric has scored our last 7 I believe and is approaching 40 for the night.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Chandler has killed us late, can't grab a rebound. Twice now we've had at least a 3 top 1 advantage and can't get the ball.

 

[Mainstreet]

With 18.4 seconds left Pelicans 110- Suns 108. The Suns will have the ball after the timeout.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So now there's 18.4 on the clock and we trail by 2. I figure we'll go for the 3, hope we make it. And I hope we miss it. Oh well.

 

[Mainstreet]

Final:

Pelicans 110- Suns 108

Tucker had a couple of tough shots at the buzzer.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Fortunately, Tucker's ego saved us there at the end. He works his butt off to get the ball but instead of passing the ball to wide open shooters he forces shot after guarded shot.

 

[sunsfan88]

You know its an obvious tank job when they go to Tucker for last shot rather than Bledsoe/Booker.

 

[hsandhu]

Yes! We're getting close to being in the clear for one of 4 worst records at least, with lakers, bkn and orlando.

 

[AzStevenCal]

You know its an obvious tank job when they go to Tucker for last shot rather than Bledsoe/Booker.

They didn't go to Tucker, he fought his way to the rebound several times.

 

[Mainstreet]

On the bright side, this was a game the Suns didn't need to win for those watching lottery balls.

 

[Mainstreet]

They didn't go to Tucker, he fought his way to the rebound several times.

Tucker was gutsy to get off a couple of shots off the rebounds.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Tucker was gutsy to get off a couple of shots off the rebounds.

When you're 0 for 6,487 in that kind of situation I call that stupid, not gutsy (hyperbole notwithstanding). Especially when you're that deep under the rim and surrounding by several Pelicans, one of whom is among the greatest shot blockers we've ever seen. The last one, you can sort of justify, he had a little space and a good look at the rim. The problem is, he just isn't a good shooter from there and we had wide open shooters and room to pass.

 

[pokerface]

Bled almost single handedly kept the Suns in this...He's doing everything he can to blow our draft...Lol.

Sorry Bled...Not tonight