The set-up: The 44-34 New Orleans Pelicans are locked in a six-team battle for the final five playoff spots in the West and come into play on Friday sitting in the No. 7 spot, a half-game back of the No. 5 seeded Spurs but also just a half-game back of the No. 8 seeded T-wolves and the Nuggets, who have the same record as Minnesota but would currently lose a tie-breaker for that final playoff spot. The Pelicans just snapped a four-game slide with a 123-95 win over the Grizzlies and tonight get to visit the only team lower than the Grizzlies in the West standings when they face the 20-59 Phoenix Suns. Phoenix ended a franchise-record 15-game losing streak by edging the Sacramento Kings 97-94 at home on Tuesday, which marked the first time the Suns had held an opponent under 100 points since Jan. 31.

New Orleans: The Pelicans are not so much concerned about which team they might play in the first round of the playoffs, rather New Orleans just wants to keep playing after April 11 (final day of the NBA's regular season). "For us, our goal all along has been to make the playoffs," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. "It doesn't matter who you play, you're going to play a really good team in the West." Anthony Davis is averaging 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game, second in the league in scoring and fifth in rebounds. He and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only players averaging at least 25 points and 10 rebounds a game.Holiday (18.9-4.9-5.9) has had a terrific season and Moore, coming off a 30-point game against Memphis, is up to 12.4 PPG on the season. Mirotic, acquired from the Bulls, has averaged 12.9 & 7.4 in his 26 games for the Pelicans, helping to mitigate the loss of Boogie Cousins (25.2 & 12.9).

Phoenix: The Suns are missing their two leading scorers, shooting guard Devin Booker (24.9) and small forward TJ Warren (19.6), who are both out while battling injuries. Rookie swingman Josh Jackson is trying to fill the void, as Jackson finished with 28 points in Tuesday's triumph and is averaging 21.8 points over the last 11 games (13.0 & 4.5 on the season). He has scored at least 15 points in 11 consecutive games, tying Utah guard Donovan Mitchell for the longest streak by a rookie this season. Jackson is averaging 21.8 points plus 5.4 rebounds in that stretch.

The pick: This is a huge game for the Pelicans, as the team can't afford to lose to the sad-sack Suns. Jackson has become the Suns' No. 1 scoring option in the continued absence of Devin Booker, TJ Warren and Elfrid Payton. Booker has missed the last nine games with a sprained right hand and Warren has missed the last eight with a hip injury. Neither is expected to play against New Orleans plus Payton is almost for sure out for the remainder of teh season with a knee injury. Make the Under a 10* play.