The Phoenix Suns did not have time to rest after their 125-98 loss to the Boston Celtics Wednesday night.
Fresh off a defeat to the team with the NBA’s best record, Phoenix was up against the first of a two-game stretch against the New Orleans Pelicans, who had the best mark in the Western Conference. The two teams played in the first round of the 2022 Western Conference playoffs, which was a scrappy, competitive series before the Suns pulled away in six games.
Still, Phoenix was up against a heavy challenge that series and Friday night due to New Orleans coach Willie Green, who was previously a Suns assistant who manned the team’s defensive efforts.