The Phoenix Suns host the Charlotte Hornets at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 a.m. UTC.
The matchup follows a period of contrasting momentum for both teams, as the Suns look to use recent perimeter improvements while the Hornets attempt to stabilize their performance on the road.
Phoenix enters the contest following a 133–110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, a game defined by the return of Jordan Goodwin. Goodwin, who had been sidelined with a calf injury, contributed six three-pointers in his return to the lineup.
His presence provides the Suns with additional spacing around Devin Booker, who has averaged 25.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds over his last ten appearances. The Suns have demonstrated a capacity to secure results in both high-scoring affairs and tighter, defensive-minded contests during their recent stretch of four home games.
Charlotte arrives in Phoenix after snapping a six-game losing streak with a 124–112 home win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to that victory, the Hornets struggled significantly on the road, where they have lost three consecutive games while failing to exceed 104 points in any of those outings.
Brandon Miller has remained a focal point of their offense, recording averages of 20.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across his last nine games. The team’s ability to replicate their recent offensive output against the Suns’ defense will be central to their efforts to end their current away-game slump.
The two teams enter the game with distinct statistical profiles over their previous ten outings, according to data provided by sportwetten.bild.de:
| Metric | Phoenix Suns | Charlotte Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored (avg) | 112.8 | 97.7 |
| Points Allowed (avg) | 118.1 | 111.1 |
| Total Game Points (avg) | 230.9 | 208.8 |
| Point Differential | -5.3 | -13.4 |
While Phoenix holds a statistical advantage in scoring, their recent defensive lapses suggest the Hornets may remain competitive if they can avoid the prolonged scoring droughts that plagued their recent road trips. The two teams have split their previous two head-to-head meetings this season, with the most recent encounter resulting in a 127–107 win for Charlotte.
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