Charlotte Hornets vs. Phoenix Suns Preview
The Charlotte Hornets are set to clash with the Phoenix Suns this Sunday night at 10 p.m. EDT, with an impressive away streak on the line. Currently, Charlotte stands at a balanced record of 32 wins and 32 losses, placing them 10th in the Eastern Conference, while the Suns boast a record of 36-27, occupying the seventh position in the Western Conference.
Hornets’ Away Streak
Charlotte enters this game gunning to extend their remarkable 10-game winning streak when playing outside their home arena. On average, the Hornets have performed well on the road, securing 18 wins out of 33 games, and their defense has been formidable—they rank fifth in the East for points allowed per game, giving up just 112.5 while limiting opponents to shoot at a 46.9% success rate.
Suns’ Home Performance
The Suns have also maintained a solid home performance with a record of 21-13, although they’ll need to step up in close games, having an even split of 7 wins and 7 losses in matches decided by three points or fewer. A particularly interesting mismatch could come in three-point shooting, as Phoenix averages 14.7 successful threes per game, exceeding the 12.8 the Hornets allow.
Offensive Output
When it comes to offensive output, Charlotte averages 116.2 points per game, which is notably higher than the 111.2 points they allow opponents to score, presenting a strong offensive force against the Suns. Players to keep an eye on include Devin Booker from Phoenix, who contributes an average of 24.8 points and 6 assists, as well as Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, averaging 19.3 points, along with LaMelo Ball, who has been on fire with 4.2 made three-point shots over the last stretch of games.
Recent Performance
In their last ten outings, the Hornets have thrived with a 7-3 record, scoring an impressive 118.1 points per game while also bringing down an average of 48.1 rebounds, compared to the Suns’ 5-5 record, where they managed to score 104.2 points per game.
Player Availability
In terms of player availability, the Suns are facing challenges as key players like Jordan Goodwin (calf), Dillon Brooks (hand), and Mark Williams (foot) are sidelined due to injuries. Meanwhile, the Hornets have Tidjane Salaun listed as day-to-day with a knee issue as they prepare for this exciting matchup.
