- Matchup: Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans
- Date: Friday, December 26, 2025
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- Broadcast: Gulf Coast Sports
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The New Orleans Pelicans (8-23) will face off against the Phoenix Suns (16-13) at the Smoothie King Center this Friday.
In their latest game, the Suns triumphed over the Lakers, finishing with a score of 132-108. The game saw the Suns commit 24 personal fouls while the Lakers had 22. From three-point range, Phoenix made 12 out of 32 attempts. The Lakers shot 62.1% from the free-throw line, converting 18 of 29. Additionally, Los Angeles accounted for 38 rebounds (14 offensive, 24 defensive) and registered 6 blocks. The Lakers also provided 22 assists and snatched 7 steals during the game. On the defensive end, the Suns allowed their opponents to shoot 48.1%, as the Lakers made 39 of 81 shots. Phoenix dished out 35 assists, forced 17 turnovers, and recorded 10 steals. The Suns gathered a total of 38 rebounds, including 12 offensive. At the charity stripe, they hit 18 of 20 attempts, achieving an impressive 90.0% shooting rate. Phoenix concluded the game with a field goal percentage of 58.8% (50 of 85), hitting 14 of their 34 three-point attempts.
Dillon Brooks emerged as a key player with 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He played 24 minutes without registering any rebounds. Brooks finished the game with an efficient field goal percentage of 66.7%, but did not provide any assists by the game’s conclusion.
The Suns enter this matchup with a season record of 16-13. They average 114.9 points per game, ranking 21st in the NBA, while shooting 46.8% from the field. From beyond the arc, they maintain a 36.4% success rate (409 of 1,124) and hit 79.7% from the free-throw line. Phoenix secures an average of 41.9 rebounds per game and has tallied 740 assists throughout the season, which places them 22nd in the league for assists. They lose possession slightly more often, averaging 15.9 turnovers per game, while committing 22.3 personal fouls per contest.
Defensively, the Suns force 17.6 turnovers on average and draw 19.8 fouls. They rank 8th in the NBA in assists allowed, having conceded 744 this season. Opponents shoot 47.5% against them (1,182 of 2,488), and they allow 42.7 rebounds per game. Opponents connect on 35.7% of their three-point attempts, while Phoenix ranks 10th in points allowed per game at 113.9.
In their last game, the Pelicans suffered a loss to the Cavaliers, ending with a score of 141-118. New Orleans struggled with rebounds, allowing Cleveland to collect 49 (14 offensive). They shot 40.8% from three-point range, converting 20 of 49 opportunities, and finished 9 of 11 from the free-throw line (81.8%). The Pelicans allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 53.3%, as they made 56 of 105 total attempts. New Orleans shot 45.7% from the field, making 43 of 94 attempts, including 11 of 26 from three-point territory (42.3%). They successfully sank 21 free throws out of 25 attempts for an 84.0% rate. The Cavaliers committed 21 fouls, giving the Pelicans extra opportunities at the line. New Orleans turned the ball over 16 times but managed to record 10 steals. They secured 30 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive boards for a total of 43 rebounds.
Zion Williamson was a standout performer for the Pelicans, scoring 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting for a field goal percentage of 60.0%, along with 5 rebounds in just 21 minutes on the court, and he delivered 1 assist as well.
New Orleans’ current record stands at 8-23. Offensively, they shoot 46.4% from the field, ranking 19th in the league. The Pelicans have scored a total of 3,581 points this season (115.5 per game) and average 43.3 rebounds. They provide 24.9 assists per game, which is 24th in the NBA, and they average 14.6 turnovers. The Pelicans commit 20.5 personal fouls per game while hitting 79.3% from the free-throw line.
Defensively, New Orleans allows 35.6% shooting from three-point range (460 of 1,292), while opponents connect on 79.4% of their free-throw attempts. They relinquish 29.2 assists and 45.4 rebounds per game, ranking 28th and 23rd respectively in the league. The Pelicans rank 27th in points allowed per game at 122.8 and force an average of 15.4 turnovers while letting opponents shoot 48.9% from the field (28th in the league).
Who will emerge victorious in this NBA showdown?
Prediction: Go with Phoenix
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