Pelicans @ Suns Friday Game Thread, 3-6-2026

[BooksOrangePlanet]

after a rather disappointing loss to chicago your phoenix suns look to even the score on their second night of back to backs against the new orleans pelicans - then the suns host charlotte on sunday night

phoenix is now 35-27 - still the 7th seed with a 3.5 game lead over golden state

pelicans (19-44) are whooping on the kings tonight so they'll be on a back to back too - new orleans has won 6 of their last 10 - not to be taken lightly

location: mortgage matchup center, phx

when: friday, march 6th, 2026

television: arizona's family 3tv / arizona's family sports / nba league pass

time: 7:00 pm arizona time

radio: kmvp 98.7 / ksun

 

[Covert Rain]

These next couple games are going to say a ton about how much we miss Williams/Brooks. Man, I really wish we hadn't traded Richards.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

houston... we have a problem... we can't defend 2 bigs

the bulls ran 2 bigs and 3 guards a lot last night - they would leave one big way out on the perimeter to suck our big out and then their guards would drive with little to no defensive help coming to stop them at the rim

ryan dunn was the only one i saw leaving his man to defend the rim consistently when oso or maluach were out of position

we usually rotate on the perimeter and have help arriving in the paint when the switch gets burned - but we weren't doing that and idk why - it's not like da bulls were raining 3s

our smaller defenders can usually stay infront of players out on the perimeter - especially with brooks and goody in there

but last night chicago exploited all of that and all of us - repeatedly - kept one big out on the 3 and the other in the dunkers spot incase the driving guard needed someone to dish to

this is a defensive weakness - ott tried repeatedly to stop it - couldn't leave manman in for long stretches because of it - that forced ott to play oso for 36 minutes - more than anyone else on the suns

ott talked about the relentless drives after the game - so did book - it was the points in the paint that did us in no doubt - and now we're facing the new orleans freakin pelicans tonight and they live in the paint

but... (and this is a good but) i made sure to mention we're a full 3.5 games over golden state for a reason - we have time to fix this problem - and i think we have the staff to do it - they are all about some small ball but idk exactly how - we simply can't run 2 bigs with williams out

this is why i want to see oso play point forward next year - but i can want in one hand and crap in the other...

 

[Proximo]

These next couple games are going to say a ton about how much we miss Williams/Brooks. Man, I really wish we hadn't traded Richards.

Come on, Nick Richards is not a difference maker.

Our best defender - by far - is Jordan Goodwin. I think him being out was a huge reason for our terrible defensive play last night.

But our bigger problem of late is offense. We are seriously having a tough time scoring 100 points a game. Why is that happening - well Jalen Green taking a good portion of shots and making 25% is a big part of it.

No Brooks creating shots from mid range is a part of it.

Teams knowing that Gillespie is pretty much useless unless he can shoot an open 3 is a big part of it.

Devin not being aggressive enough is a part of it too.

 

[Covert Rain]

Come on, Nick Richards is not a difference maker.

Our best defender - by far - is Jordan Goodwin. I think him being out was a huge reason for our terrible defensive play last night.

But our bigger problem of late is offense. We are seriously having a tough time scoring 100 points a game. Why is that happening - well Jalen Green taking a good portion of shots and making 25% is a big part of it.

No Brooks creating shots from mid range is a part of it.

Teams knowing that Gillespie is pretty much useless unless he can shoot an open 3 is a big part of it.

Devin not being aggressive enough is a part of it too.

Nick Richards was an upgrade over Ayton in terms of a presence on the floor (showing up), grabbing rebounds and putting in easy dunks now and then. As we found out in a game where a few rebounds could have made a difference in might make a difference here and there. Nobody said he was a Book type difference maker. Not being able to depend on Manman severely impacts our rotations as well when you have to have Oso in the lineup and not a reliable big to back him up.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

suns had to figure maluach was close enough when they got rid of richards- especially with williams' injury history

we have a comfortable lead over golden state - it's time for maluach - it's going to be rough at times - painful - even funny at times but i don't think he'll be the reason we win or lose - i'd already take maluach over eubanks

im going to try and enjoy these next few weeks watching the big kid figure it out - it's what we all wanted - we just didn't think we'd also be in the playoff race - nobody knew these games would matter

 

[Mainstreet]

These next couple games are going to say a ton about how much we miss Williams/Brooks. Man, I really wish we hadn't traded Richards.

It was mostly a money saving move by the Suns. Failing to replace Richards with another 4/5 may come back to haunt them.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns injury report.

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@GeraldBourguet · 5m

The Suns list Royce O'Neale (right foot soreness) as questionable for tonight against the Pelicans. Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction) and Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) remain out

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

The Suns injury report.

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@GeraldBourguet · 5m

The Suns list Royce O'Neale (right foot soreness) as questionable for tonight against the Pelicans. Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction) and Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) remain out

it would explain oneale's play and absence at the end

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

wow we're going to see a lot of rasheer fleming - he only played 11 minutes last night - im guessing 20 tonight

 

[mjb21aztd]

Bit sad after bulls meltdown.... 420 didnt help much.

Hopin better outcome vs pels fingers crossed

 

[Suns_fan69]

I'd like to see Haysmith get some run. He's off the injury report and should be a more capable PoA defender which Phoenix has been sorely missing since Brooks/Goodwin have been out. Right now it's just Dunn and he's a bit more inconsistent with that role.

 

[Chaplin]

I'd like to see Haysmith get some run. He's off the injury report and should be a more capable PoA defender which Phoenix has been sorely missing since Brooks/Goodwin have been out. Right now it's just Dunn and he's a bit more inconsistent with that role.

Well we've got Zion tonight, so there is a possibility we may see Highsmith.

 

[Mainstreet]

Bit sad after bulls meltdown.... 420 didnt help much.

Hopin better outcome vs pels fingers crossed

No excuse for the poor display by the Suns, especially defensively, against the Bulls.

 

[Proximo]

Nick Richards was an upgrade over Ayton in terms of a presence on the floor (showing up), grabbing rebounds and putting in easy dunks now and then. As we found out in a game where a few rebounds could have made a difference in might make a difference here and there. Nobody said he was a Book type difference maker. Not being able to depend on Manman severely impacts our rotations as well when you have to have Oso in the lineup and not a reliable big to back him up.

I don't think much of Manman, but I would rather play him and try and develop him than give Nick Richards playing time - I already know what he is a very subpar backup. Maybe Manman will develop.

 

[Proximo]

Well we've got Zion tonight, so there is a possibility we may see Highsmith.

Actually now that you bring him up - with that awful defensive display last night why didn't he get into the game?

 

[Proximo]

wow we're going to see a lot of rasheer fleming - he only played 11 minutes last night - im guessing 20 tonight

I hope so, it's the one thing I enjoy watching with this team right now. Otherwise it's been depressing lately.

 

[Chaplin]

Actually now that you bring him up - with that awful defensive display last night why didn't he get into the game?

Beats me, there was a lot wrong with that game from top to bottom. There were only a few somewhat bright spots, basically Book (but he was inconsistent), Grayson (ditto) and Amir Coffey. Everything else (including coaching) was garbage.

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't think much of Manman, but I would rather play him and try and develop him than give Nick Richards playing time - I already know what he is a very subpar backup. Maybe Manman will develop.

Depends on your goal. If you want to get into the playoffs and go anywhere, I would rather have Richards. If you think this is a throwaway year? OK. I don't think Ishbia or the Suns want any throwaway years.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

oneale is available tonight

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

this is what I was talking about earlier with the pelicans living in the paint

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[BooksOrangePlanet]

gonna be a super tough match up tonight with williams out and richards gone - don't know what to expect after last night

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

here we go

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

green didn't miss that layup

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

same starters as last night

gillespie green book oneale oso