The New Orleans Pelicans travel to take on the Phoenix Suns tonight in what will be the 4th and final meeting between the teams this season. The Pelicans have been able to win 2 of the 3 games so far, with their loss coming on the road in Phoenix. This time they return there with Zion Williamson in the fold. He has had great success against the Suns in the other games and will be hoping he can help his squad avenge that road defeat. Let’s jump straight into the same game parlay I have put together for tonightR 17;s encounter between these Western Conference contenders.
Williamson has been dominant against the Suns this season. In the 2 games against them the forward is averaging 35 points per game on 71.1% shooting from the field. The Suns do not have anyone on their roster that can effectively deal with his combination of size and athleticism. With Deandre Ayton also out for the hosts, the should be more space in the paint for Williamson to attack. Bismack Biyombo will likely draw the start but he is not as physical of a force as Ayton is. Over the last 10 games the Suns have been in the bottom 10 in the league in defensive rating. It is tough to see what adjustments they could make to slow down the Pelicans star.
Check out our predictions for New Orleans Pelicans vs Phoenix Suns
Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 10 rebounds per game against the Suns and should too benefit from the absence of Ayton. His replacement Biyombo is not an offensive threat outside of the paint. That should allow Valanciunas to maintain great defensive rebounding position throughout the night. The Lithuanian will also enjoy a size advantage over his opponent here, giving him the edge when going for contested rebounds. With Biyombo also being a keen shot blocker, look for Valanciunas to get offensive rebounding opportunities. The Suns are 24th in the league in opponent rebounds per game and the Pelicans center should be able to grab his share tonight.