Charlotte Hornets vs. Phoenix Suns: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/24/2023

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

Where to watch: BSAZ, BSSE-CHA

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FanDuel: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Hornets: 13-34

Suns: 24-24

Hornets: lost 120-102 at Jazz

Suns: won 112-110 vs. Grizzlies

The Phoenix Suns will try to win their fourth straight game on Tuesday where they host the Charlotte Hornets, who are coming in with winners of two in a row albeit against Atlanta and Houston but no one's really counting that.

 

The Suns are still in a weird position of where we're not really sure where they are in terms of the pecking order because everyone is hurt and they are not playing up to the level of which I think everyone anticipated them being however, they did defeat the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday by the score of 112-110. And it was a game in which the Suns were pretty short handed. There was no Devin Booker, there was no DeAndre Ayton. But behind the good graces of Chris Paul going for 22 points and 11 assists, and Mikal Bridges scoring 24 points, phoenix found a way to actually win a game that not many people would have expected them to win.

 

I don't want to throw dirt on phoenix completely because I know for a fact that they're going to find a way toward the end of the season to rebound and get themselves back near the top of the Western Conference. When these players come back, notably Booker, they are going to be able to find a way to start winning games and start making some serious headway here.

 

But it could be worse if you are Charlotte. The Hornets have really tried their best to not completely plummet through the core of the earth. Yes, not having Lamela ball in the lineup has definitely hindered their progress to the point of where they have taken a huge step back. But at least Charlotte is in play for the number one pick and if they are in play for the number one pick I don't even want to think about the future prospects of the Hornets knowing what they can be later on down the road.

 

Charlotte is coming off a 122-118 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in which Atlanta completely crumbled in the final minutes and allowed the shorthanded Hornets to come away with a victory. But it was a day to remember for the likes of Terry Rozier who finished with 34 points, and PJ Washington finishing with 23 points, but that isn't the tell-all tale for this whole situation no. Well, it is more amazing here is that Mason Plumlee finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds because of course he did.

 

I'm not quite entirely sure how in the world Mason Plumlee finished with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds and I'm not really going to want to stand around and figure out how in the world in the time-space continuum that actually happened, but I digress. Congrats to the big man for doing something noteworthy and Congrats to the Hornets for finding a way to knock off a playoff-contending team. Boggles my mind.

 

Usually, in this kind of situation, you go by the process of elimination and you fully come to expect why in the world phoenix should win this game and in reality, phoenix should absolutely win this game. Charlotte is too banged up and even though Charlotte has healthier players in a weird kind of way, phoenix still has a good pick-and-roll combination with bridges and Paul and that's about as good as they can get right now. Suns 117, Hornets 110

Betting trends

Hornets are 2-11 ATS on Tuesday the last 3 seasons.

Hornets are 9-9 ATS in non-conference games this season.

Suns are 6-10 ATS in non-conference games this season.

Suns are 43-45 ATS off a home win the last 3 seasons.

PG: Dennis Smith Jr.

SG: Terry Rozier

SF: Gordon Hayward

PF: P.J. Washington

C: Mason Plumlee

PG: Chris Paul

SG: Duane Washington Jr.

SF: Mikal Bridges

PF: Cameron Johnson

C: Bismack Biyombo

Injury report

Hornets: LaMelo Ball (out)

Suns: Devin Booker (groin, out), Deandre Ayton (out), Cam Payne (foot, out), Landry Shamet (foot, out)

Points: LaMelo Ball -- 23.5

Rebounds: Mason Plumlee -- 9.8

Assists: LaMelo Ball -- 8.2

Points: Devin Booker -- 27.1

Rebounds: Deandre Ayton -- 9.9

Assists: Chris Paul -- 8.4