Pelicans-Suns Preview

By JACK CASSIDY

(AP) -- While the New Orleans Pelicans got a taste of the postseason their last time out, it'll take a successful stretch to reach the real thing.

Locked in a tight race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, New Orleans will look to keep pace Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns, who have stayed afloat despite a slight downturn following the trade deadline.

The Pelicans (37-30) have gone 10-3 since Feb. 21 to remain within striking distance of the playoffs, trailing Oklahoma City by a half-game for the eighth seed in the West.

After a double-overtime loss Sunday, New Orleans nearly squandered a 15-0 opening run Tuesday before holding off Milwaukee 85-84 to avoid its first back-to-back defeats since a four-game skid Feb. 7-20. It was the fourth victory in five games for the Pelicans, and for Anthony Davis, perhaps the most grueling.

"It felt like a playoff game," said Davis, who had a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. "It was physical. That's how it's going to be from here on out. It's going to be battles. But we came out with the win, so we're happy about that."

Davis has averaged 29.3 points in his last seven along with 11.3 rebounds and 4.7 blocks. He and the Pelicans will play their remaining 15 games against West competition.

"We've got to take it one game at a time, go into Phoenix with a mind-set of getting that win, and we've just got to play," Davis said. "We can't go out there and think we're going to win. We've got to go out there and have a will to win and a sense of urgency."

Sitting 2 1/2 games behind New Orleans, this contest stands especially significant for Phoenix (35-33). Although the Suns bounced back from a loss to Atlanta on Friday with a 102-89 victory against New York on Sunday, they have gone 6-8 since trading Isaiah Thomas to Boston and Goran Dragic to Miami on Feb. 19.

Their offense has suffered the most significant decline, averaging just 99.4 points over their last 14 compared to 105.9 previously.

Eric Bledsoe has managed to maintain his production in spite of his team's waning offense. He scored 21 points in each of his last two games and nearly recorded his third career triple-double Sunday, finishing with 11 assists and nine rebounds.

"It would have been great if I would have got it, but at the end of the day we won," Bledsoe said. "We've still got a fighting chance (at the playoffs)."

Brandon Knight has missed Phoenix's last three games with a sprained left ankle, but could play Thursday. Knight, who was acquired at the deadline, is averaging 14.4 points through 10 games with the Suns after scoring 17.8 per game with Milwaukee.

Alex Len, who sat Sunday with a sprained right ankle, could also be available.

The Suns struggled on the glass in their 110-106 loss to New Orleans on Dec. 30. Davis grabbed a season-high 18 boards to help the Pelicans outrebound Phoenix 49-38.