The New Orleans Pelicans, currently 14th in the Western Conference with an 8-23 record, recently saw their season-best five-game winning streak come to an end, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-141 on December 24th. However, the team has shown promise. Zion Williamson, returning from injury, has been impressive off the bench, scoring over 24 points in three consecutive games, including 26 points against the Cavaliers. Rookie Dereck Lively II has also been outstanding in the last four games, averaging at least 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Trey Murphy III has also delivered, with seven games scoring over 20 points. These three are the offensive core. The Pelicans face injury challenges. Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray are confirmed to be out, and Jordan Poole is questionable, potentially affecting the team's rotation and offensive and defensive coordination. The Phoenix Suns currently hold a 16-13 record, placing them 7th in the Western Conference. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. However, they bounced back with a 132-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks were key in this win, with Booker scoring 21 points and providing 11 assists, and Brooks scoring 25 points. The Suns also have injury concerns: Grayson Allen, Jalen Green, and Kobe Bufkin will be unavailable, impacting their outside shooting depth. Additionally, the Suns struggle on the boards, ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive rebounds.