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New Orleans and Phoenix meet for conference matchup

Phoenix Suns (17-13, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8-24, 14th in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Suns -5.5; over/under is 238.5

BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes New Orleans and Phoenix square off on Saturday.

The Pelicans are 4-20 in conference matchups. New Orleans ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 12.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Yves Missi averaging 2.9.

The Suns are 16-12 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is ninth in the NBA allowing just 113.7 points while holding opponents to 47.4% shooting.

The Pelicans are shooting 46.3% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 47.4% the Suns allow to opponents. The Suns average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 fewer makes per game than the Pelicans allow.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Suns won 115-108 in the last matchup on Dec. 27.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Murphy III is averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists over the past 10 games.

Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.4 points and five assists for the Suns. Devin Booker is averaging 30.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 5-5, averaging 121.2 points, 44.4 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points per game.

Suns: 5-5, averaging 110.8 points, 38.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 11.7 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Herbert Jones: day to day (ankle), Dejounte Murray: out (leg).

Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Jalen Green: out (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup

▶ Watch Video: Inside look at security preparations for World Cup Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals."The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported with an array of social services for the victims, including food, housing and counseling.The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway."We have ongoing investigations now as a result of these operations," an NYPD official told CBS News.Major sporting events are known to law enforcement as hotbeds of human trafficking.Years in advance, the NYPD devoted significant resources to preparing for the World Cup. Eight matches were played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including the final on Sunday."When we talk about the outreach and the prep we do, a large part of that involved visiting the known sex offenders, particularly the known human traffickers, in our registry," Marcus said. "Whether they're on parole or probation for human trafficking, we visited them to make sure they're compliant with the terms of their release, and secondly, to let them know that the NYPD is watching."The matches were held in multiple cities around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Preparations to secure those games and prepare for crimes like human trafficking were coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.Police departments in many locations that hosted World Cup matches have made arrests and rescues connected to human trafficking, including in Georgia, New England and Missouri. Nationally, there were more than 673 arrests on human-trafficking charges made during the World Cup, and 61 adults and 13 minors rescued, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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