Phoenix Suns vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 29/12/2023, 07:50  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Phoenix Suns will face off against the Charlotte Hornets at the Footprint Center in the NBA on Friday night. The hosts are 15-15 and tenth in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 7-22 and 13 in the Eastern Conference. 

The Charlotte Hornets are in a major slum at the moment, having lost 13 of their last 15 games, and they are looking to end a nine-game slide after a 133-112 road defeat against the Lakers. In that game, Miles Bridges led the team in scoring with 20 points and five assists, while Terry Rozier contributed 18 points and eight assists. Offensively, the Hornets are ranked 26th in the league, scoring an average of 110.3 points per game, 4.2 points fewer than the Suns typically allow. Defensively, they also rank 26th, giving up 121.0 points per game. Additionally, the Hornets are 24th in defensive rebounding percentage and 25th in free throw attempts against per game. Perhaps the most concerning part is that they have been poor with a full roster, as there are no players flagged with injury at the moment. 

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have faced challenges recently, losing seven of their last 10 games, but they managed to halt a three-game slide with a convincing 129-113 road win over the Rockets. In that game, Kevin Durant led the team with a triple-double, contributing 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 16 assists, while Eric Gordon added 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Offensively, the Suns are ranked 16th in the league, averaging 115.0 points per game. This is six points fewer than their opponents typically allow. On the defensive end, Phoenix allows an average of 114.5 points per game, ranking 18th in the NBA. Throughout the season, the Suns have struggled with injuries, making it difficult to field all three of their big-name players for a sustained period, and they will remain without Bradley Beal in this one.