Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction & Best Bet - 12/26/2025
Updated July 9, 2026
The Phoenix Suns head into Friday night’s showdown against the New Orleans Pelicans with momentum from a big win and they will try to continue their run of solid play with a win here. The Pelicans have enjoyed a strong late December run that has coincided with the return of Zion Williamson to the floor. Which of these teams will continue playing well with a win in this game? Continue reading to get my Suns vs Pelicans prediction.
Pick: | Pelicans +5.5 |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
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Injuries will play a central role in this contest. Phoenix is set to be without Jalen Green, who is sidelined with a hamstring issue and will be re‑evaluated in upcoming weeks. Grayson Allen is also listed as out with right knee soreness, weakening Phoenix’s backcourt depth. New Orleans faces absences as well with Dejounte Murray (leg) and Herbert Jones (ankle) out and Jordan Poole listed as day‑to‑day, which could limit the Pelicans’ offensive options.
The Suns did put forth a potent offensive performance recently, scoring 132 points against the Lakers and getting strong contributions from Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker. New Orleans has built momentum with a string of victories highlighted by strong play from Zion Williamson, Derik Queen, Saddiq Bey, and Jordan Poole when available. The Pelicans’ recent surge includes wins over the Rockets, Pacers, and Mavericks, giving them confidence at home. Despite this, New Orleans still struggles on the defensive end, ranking near the bottom of the league in points allowed.
Player | Prop |
|---|---|
Devin Booker | Over 26.5 Points |
Dillon Brooks | Under 21.5 Points |
Collin Gillespie | Under 5.5 Assists |
Zion Williamson | Over 20.5 Points |
Score Projection: Phoenix Suns 119 – New Orleans Pelicans 117
Win Probability: Suns 52%, Pelicans 48%
Both of these teams are playing well of late, but I'm going to take the points with the Pelicans at home. The return of Williamson has given them the ability to get easy buckets at the rim, which has opened things up for the New Orleans offense. I'm expecting a game that is decided by a possession or two in either direction and for the underdog to cover the number.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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