The Hornets are 3-7 SU and were in the midst of a six-game losing streak ahead of their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, but you wouldn’t have known it, considering Charlotte shot 50% from the three-point line, cashing in on 23 of their 46 attempts without Kon Kneuppel or Brandon Miller. Grayson Allen and Naz Reid paced the offense, but now the Hornets head on the road for just the second time since Halloween weekend to play the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night – marking the start of a four-game West Coast trip.
The Suns have been in opposite form, winners of three in their last four games. Their only loss in that span came to the San Antonio Spurs, which is forgivable in my book. Speaking of which, Devin Booker still leads this team in scoring, averaging 25.1 points along with nearly five assists per game. They’ve faced just one Eastern Conference team this season – a 117-104 home win over a shorthanded Orlando squad.
I’m willing to bet Charlotte’s shooting performance on Monday was an anomaly, especially without the likes of two of their best players. Given the trip out west, I’m expecting regression in the shooting department. The Hornets haven’t covered a single road game since their opening night win in Brooklyn, while Phoenix has covered three of their last four home games.
Hornets vs Suns prediction: Suns -6.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -7.
