Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Hornets: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/1/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, BSAZ

DraftKings: Suns -10; PHX -490, CHA +390; O/U 229

FanDuel: Suns -10; PHX -490, CHA +380; O/U 229

BetMGM: Suns -9.5; PHX -500, CHA +375; O/U 228.5

Caesars: Suns -10; PHX -588, CHA +430; O/U 229

Suns: 33-29

Hornets: 20-43

The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!

Well, the day is here. Kevin Durant makes his debut with the Phoenix Suns when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday in Spectrum Center. What would normally be a good game is going to be marred by the home team not having LaMelo Ball, as the star point guard’s tough season continued with a right ankle fracture in Monday’s win over the Detroit Pistons.

 

We’ll get to Charlotte later, but this is a big day — and a pressure-packed one for the Suns. Durant, who had been resting an MCL injury dating back to his time in Brooklyn, will finally take the court for the first time with Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. There’s excitement. There’s also pressure to win a championship this year and if they don’t, things might get a little sour in Phoenix.

 

The Suns are coming off a 104-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in that game without Giannis Antetokounmpo and ended up winning their 14th straight game. Booker scored a team-high 24 points and had eight assists, and Ayton had a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Paul had 18 points and seven assists. As for everyone else, not a lot of help. The Suns still shot 42 percent from the floor.

 

Booker thought he was fouled on the final play that should’ve sent him to the line for free throws.

 

“I was touched," Booker said. "But I did the same thing to Jrue on the other end. On that play, he hit my arm. But it’s playoff-type basketball and refs are going to let things go. And that was that.”

 

The Suns have gone 1-1 since the All-Star break but are 3-1-1 against the spread in the last five after going 2-3 in the previous five. I would expect when the line hits that this line would be heavy in their favor, especially knowing the Hornets won’t have Ball.

 

Speaking of Charlotte, as we type this out, Ball is done for the year with an ankle fracture. Tough news for the surging Hornets, who won their fifth straight game on Monday, 117-106 against the Detroit Pistons. Ball was having a tremendous game with six 3-pointers to have 18 points, six rebounds and five assists before going down. Instead, Terry Rozier led the way with 22 points, and Mark Williams posted yet another double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Gordon Hayward had 19 points on 8 of 15 shooting.

 

“It's certainly disappointing because he's a major part of our team and we felt like we were rounding the corner,” Hayward said.

 

The Hornets reached the 20-win mark in what’s been a tough year with Ball in and out of the lineup, but they are still showing how deep of a team they have. Williams, this year’s first-round pick, is starting to post double-doubles like it’s nothing, and Rozier is still a walking bucket.

 

In addition to winning five straight outright, the Hornets have covered in their last five after failing to cover in their previous five. It’s also been a combination of being a favorite and an underdog; sure there are games against San Antonio and Detroit, but they beat a Miami team that has more talent and outscored an Atlanta team that has more talent than they do.

 

Ball’s absence is going to hurt Charlotte on the defensive end, and if Paul gets going with Durant, that’s a combo that will be deadly. The streak ends for Charlotte, and a new era begins for Phoenix. Suns 128, Hornets 112

Suns are 14-16 ATS on the road this season.

Suns are 19-15 ATS after an under this season.

Hornets are 8-11 ATS as a home underdog this season; 32-29 in the last 3 seasons.

PG: Chris Paul

SG: Devin Booker

SF: Torrey Craig

PF: Kevin Durant

C: Deandre Ayton

PG: Dennis Smith Jr.

SG: Terry Rozier

SF: Gordon Hayward

PF: P.J. Washington

C: Mark Williams

Injury report

Suns: Landry Shamet (foot, out)

Hornets: LaMelo Ball (ankle, out), Cody Martin (knee, out)