The Phoenix Suns continue their four-game road trip as they tip-off against the New Orleans Pelicans on the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
SUNS VS PELICANS HISTORY
It has been an even history for the Suns and Pelicans as the two teams are tied 30-30 in the all-time series.
Each team has scored 115-plus points in their least four games with two going to overtime. The teams have gone 2-2 over those four matchups as the Suns are averaging 127.0 points and. Pelicans are averaging 129.0 points against each other in the four games.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a career-high 32 points in his hometown in New Orleans on 3/16/19. Devin Booker holds three of the five highest scoring games by a Suns player in the series.
KEY CONNECTIONS
Suns HC Monty Williams was New Orleans’ coach from 2010-2015, with two playoff appearances. Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday is the only remaining player that Williams coached there.
Pelicans HC Alvin Gentry was Phoenix’s coach from 2009-2013, going 158-144 with one playoff run. Gentry’s Suns went 5-4 against Williams’ Hornets.
Cheick Diallo played 133 games with the Pelicans from 2016-19.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is from New Orleans and has regularly presented scholarships to area students.
Pelicans EVP of Basketball Opperations David Griffin, VP of Player Care & Performance Aaron Nelson and Head Athletic Trainer Tom Maystadt were longtime members of the Suns.
RICKY’S PLAYMAKING
Ricky Rubio last committed a turnover with 11:00 left in the first quarter vs. Dallas on Nov. 29 -- since his last turnover, Rubio has distributed 31 assists without turning it over again.
Rubio has 22 assists with 0 turnovers over his last two games -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first NBA player with 22+ assists and 0 turnovers over a two-game span since Chicago’s Jimmy Butler had 23 and 0 over two games from March 22-24, 2017.
The last Suns player to do so was Steve Nash over a two-game span from Jan. 19-21, 2007 (26 and 0).
PHOENIX FACTS
Frank Kaminsky scored 21 points in the first half against the Orlando Magic, notching a career high for points in a half.
Ty Jerome has 11 assists through his first two career games, the second-most by any Suns rookie through two career games trailing only Alvan Adams’ 12 assists in his first two games in 1975. Jerome also has 5 steals through two career games, the third-most by any Suns rookie through two career games trailing only Adams’ 7 in 1975 and Walter Davis’ 6 in 1977 (Basketball-Reference).