Game Preview: Charlotte Hornets at Phoenix Suns

Getting you ready for today's game.

Author:
Ian Black
Dec 29, 2023 4:06 PM EST

In this story:

Charlotte Hornets

Phoenix Suns

Injury Report

Hornets: OUT LaMelo Ball (R ankle), Gordon Hayward (Calf), Mark Williams (Back)

Suns: OUT Damion Lee (Knee); QUESTIONABLE Josh Okogie (Ankle)

Game Preview

The Hornets (7-22) are on the road on Friday to take on the Suns (15-15). The Hornets lost nine games in a row, and will be attempting to steal one without key players LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, or Mark Williams.

The timing off the game in the schedule will make this one even more difficult, as the Suns are finally getting star guard Bradley Beal back from injury. Beal has played in just six games this season, but is sure to bolster what has been a very thin Suns' rotation thus far.

The three-headed monster of Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant have not had much time to figure out their rhythm together this season though, so adding a star back to a lineup that has only won three times in their last ten games may not be the immediate bolstering that Phoenix is looking for.

Charlotte will be once again looking to Terry Rozier to shoulder the load in the absence of its starters. Finding and executing on efficient looks will be paramount for the veteran guard's ability to lead his squad.

Key Matchup: Miller & McGowens vs Beal & Allen

Kevin Durant is going to get his opportunities and be effective on a nightly basis. Jusuf Nurkic is a known, narrow, and relatively efficient commodity at this point in his career. There's not much Charlotte can do there. Where an underdog Charlotte team can disrupt flow of expectations though will be on the wings.

As mentioned above, the Suns are not playing up to their talent level so far this season, in part because of the lack of minutes the teams most important players have been on the court together to build chemistry.

Miller and McGowens are young wings going up against some savvy veterans. If they can be disruptive on defense to further exploit Phoenix's lack of chemistry, the door is open for surprise success.

Miller has been an extremely consistent piece so far as a rookie. In fact, every fully healthy game he has played in December has resulted in 13-17 shots per game and 14-21 points in each of those games. He's shot below 37.5% from 3-pt range only twice in those games as well.

Miller's focus to take the next jump will need to be improving efficiency within the arc to improve his 41.1 FG% on the season. Being short a few key teammates may make that difficult to execute tonight, but a subtly vulnerable Phoenix opponent may leave the door open.

McGowens on the other hand has been thrusted into the starting lineup due to injury to Gordon Hayward. Mitigated mistakes, bugging the Suns backcourt, and providing solid minutes would go a long way for Charlotte tonight.

Predicted Starting Fives