New Orleans @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2019 ) New Orleans 126, Phoenix 133

The New Orleans Pelicans are pulling themselves up after a slow start and are coming off their first back-to-back wins of the season. The Pelicans will try to make it three straight and five of seven when they open a three-game road trip by visiting the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

New Orleans is still waiting for the debut of No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson (knee) but is getting back some other injured players and small forward Brandon Ingram (knee) returned from a four-game absence to collect 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 115-104 win over Portland on Tuesday. Ingram's return provides some offensive support for guard Jrue Holiday, who recorded 22 points and 10 assists on Tuesday and is averaging 23.5 points over the last four contests. The Suns are trending in the opposite direction and suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season when they followed a 99-85 home loss to Boston with a 120-116 setback at Sacramento. The 85 points on Monday against Boston marked Phoenix's fewest of the season while Tuesday's loss marked the third time in the last six games that the team surrendered at least 120 points.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE PELICANS (5-9): One of the players keeping New Orleans competitive while the team deals with a slew of injuries is shooting guard Kenrich Williams, who collected eight points, 13 rebounds and three steals on Tuesday while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. "He just makes winning plays," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of Williams. "That's what he does - winning play after winning play. You know, he gets a couple of extra possessions here and there or he takes a charge or takes a couple of charges, he deflects the ball that we come up with. So, just all the plays that help you win games." Williams grabbed double-digit rebounds in four of the last five contests and logged over 30 minutes in each of those games.

ABOUT THE SUNS (7-6): Phoenix shooting guard Devin Booker tried to will his team to victory on Tuesday with 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting and eight assists and is improving his efficiency this season. The 23-year-old shot a career-best 46.7 percent from the floor last season but pushed that number to 53.4 percent so far in 2019-20, including 50 percent from beyond the arc. Booker had some help on Tuesday from rookie forward Cam Johnson, who scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 26 minutes off the bench.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns C Aron Baynes (hip) sat out Tuesday and is day-to-day.

2. Pelicans SG Josh Hart (knee), C Jahlil Okafor (ankle) and Derrick Favors (back) are all questionable.

3. The teams split four meetings last season, with Phoenix taking the final two in overtime.

PREDICTION: Suns 123, Pelicans 121