Suns Reveal Interesting Starting Lineup Move vs Hornets

The Phoenix Suns were projected to finally have their full starting lineup healthy with center Mark Williams now green-lit for his lengthy return from a foot injury.

That's not quite the case, as Williams will return to the court coming off the bench tonight.

It's been a long road for the Suns, who have struggled to get their lineup all on the floor through the vast majority of the 2025-26 season — though that's not quite the case for head coach Jordan Ott and his Suns as the Charlotte Hornets play host.

With potential playoff implications riding for both sides, here's Phoenix's starting lineup:

Suns Reveal Starters vs Hornets

Devin Booker
Jalen Green
Collin Gillespie
Dillon Brooks
Oso Ighodaro

The Suns are starting Ighodaro over Williams in what will presumably be due to conditioning reasons. Phoenix, tonight, continues to roll with their three-guard lineup.

Suns-Hornets will tip just past 4:00 PM AZ time in Charlotte.

Phoenix had just gotten Brooks back in their last taste of action with Williams now following suit as the Suns look to end their road trip.

"He'll find it. He's been around the block," Ott said pre-game on Brooks (h/t Duane Rankin).

"This isn't his first rodeo. He's super aware the time of the season. He wants to do well. We've got to have some grace with him. Out five weeks, coming back. Really hasn't played since the All-Star break, basically. We're just excited for him to be back and his edge and all that energy that he brings."

The Suns have six games remaining in the regular season and are extremely unlikely to make the Western Conference's top six. With the play-in tournament practically settled, Phoenix's focus should now shift towards gelling as much as possible with their healthy stars.

The Hornets are one of the team's best three-point shooting teams while ranking top five in team rebounds per game, which makes Williams' presence extremely vital tonight.

"I mean both sides of the ball, really. I mean when you have that much success it is both sides of the ball, I mean offensively, they shoot it, they space you, pretty similar style, play a lot of threes, lot of pick-and-rolls, they crash the glass, get to the glass and then defensively, they're just solid," Ott said ahead of their first matchup, which Phoenix won 111-99.

"They're just solid all over. A little bit different than how we do it. Their big is further back, good rebounding team, don't put you on the free throw line. Just overall size, their size comes off the film, how big they are across the board.”

The Suns are well aware of what's ahead. With their starters fully healthy, we'll see if Phoenix can make good on their talent.