Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction & Best Bet – 12/26/2025

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.

Our Suns vs Pelicans Pick

Game Snapshot

• Matchup: Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans
• Date & Time: Friday, December 26, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Broadcast: NBA League Pass

Key Storylines

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.

Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends

• Phoenix won the first meeting between these teams by a score of 121-98 in Phoenix back in November.
• The Suns are 19-10 against the spread going into Friday night.
• The Pelicans are 19-11-1 against the spread entering this matchup.
• New Orleans has gone over the total in 19 of its 31 games.
• Phoenix has gone 14-15 in the over/under market this year.

Best Player Props to Watch

Suns vs Pelicans Model Projection

Final Thoughts

Jay Sanin

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.