Phoenix Suns vs Charlotte Hornets 03/01/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction

The Phoenix Suns travel to North Carolina to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.

Phoenix is 33-29 SU on the season. The Suns are 3.5 games behind the Sacramento Kings for the top spot in the Pacific Division team standings. They are also 4th in the Western Conference team standings and are 10.5 games off the leaders Denver Nuggets. Phoenix is, however, only 5 games off the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

Charlotte is 20-43 SU on the season and they are next to last in the Eastern Conference team standings and 13.5 games off the Southeast leaders Miami Heat. The Hornets head to this game with a five-game winning streak but will be without their best player in LaMelo Ball who is out for the season.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns will be looking to bounce back from Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with a strong win on Wednesday night. Phoenix expects Kevin Durant to make his Suns’ debut here and he will be a big boost for the Suns’ title aspirations.

pic.twitter.com/ruXsmTfwO7

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 28, 2023

KD is averaging 29.7 points per game this season while also grabbing 6.7 boards, and issuing 5.3 assists per game but has not played since January 8th. Devin Booker is putting up 26.5 points per game while also pulling down 4.6 boards and dishing off 5.7 assists per game this year. Booker led the Suns during the loss against Milwaukee with 24 points while Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 boards.

Phoenix is just 22nd in scoring at 112.7 points per game this season but will get a massive scoring boost with the addition of Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, the Suns are 5th in scoring defense at only 111.3 points per game conceded.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are on a roll right now with five straight wins. Charlotte defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-106 at home in their most recent game on Monday night. Charlotte saw LaMelo Ball drain six three-pointers before suffering an ankle injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

LaMelo Ball goes down with a non-contact injury. Oh no… pic.twitter.com/IMxg18PvDH

— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) February 28, 2023

In that game, Charlotte raced to a 41-21 lead before getting outscored 60-52 in the second half. Terry Rozier led the team with 22 points while Gordon Hayward added 19 points for Charlotte. Meanwhile, LaMelo and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18 apiece and Mark Williams posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Charlotte is scoring just 112.8 points per game and will be without their top scorer in Ball. The Hornets’ defense is allowing 118.4 points per game this year. Aside for Ball, Charlotte could be without Cody Martin and PJ Washington who are both listed as day-to-day.

Suns vs Hornets SU Prediction

The Suns are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played against the Hornets. Phoenix is 3-1 SU in their last four games played in Charlotte.

Phoenix Suns SU trends:

The Suns are 12-5 SU in their last 17 games played.

The Suns are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games played on the road.

The Suns are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games played against the Eastern Conference.

The Suns are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games played against the Southeast Division.

Charlotte Hornets SU trends:

The Hornets are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games played.

The Hornets are 11-18 SU in their last 29 games played at home.

The Hornets are 7-13 SU in their last 20 games played against the Western Conference.

The Hornets are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played against the Pacific Division.

This one is going to be a big night for the Suns as they expect Kevin Durant to make his debut on Wednesday night. The Suns made the biggest trade of the year when they acquired KD from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline.

Durant has not played since January 8 with an MCL injury but he has been practicing with the team and has traveled with the Suns during their current four-game road trip. The 13-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP is averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in 39 games played this season.

Devin Booker has scored at least 20 points in four out of six games played this month after returning from a groin injury that forced him out of action for five weeks. Meanwhile, Josh Okogie has averaged 18.5 points per game in the Suns’ last six games played.

Charlotte had won five straight games and was having their best stretch of the season when LaMelo Ball suffered a right ankle fracture last Monday night. Ball is expected to miss the rest of the season and his injury is a huge blow for the Hornets.

Ball had scored 18 points on six three-pointers before going down with a non-contact injury. He was averaging a team-high 23.3 points per game this season. Without LaMelo, the Hornets are expected to promote Dennis Smith Jr. to the starting point guard position. Smith had 7 assists in their last game against the Pistons.

Terry Rozier will have to take charge of the Hornets. Rozier is averaging 21.4 points per game the season, second-best in Charlotte.

No question, the Hornets are at a disadvantage here without their top scorer. Meanwhile, the Suns are looking to bounce back after losing to the Bucks. With Kevin Durant expected to make his debut here, expect the Suns to play with plenty of confidence.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns

Suns vs Hornets ATS Prediction

The Suns are 3-0 ATS in their last four games played against the Hornets. Phoenix is also 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games played in Charlotte.

Phoenix Suns ATS trends:

• The Suns are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games
• The Suns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up loss.
• The Suns are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Suns are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Suns are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
• The Suns are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 2 days’ rest.
• The Suns are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games played in March.
• The Suns are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games played against the Southeast Division.

Charlotte Hornets ATS trends:

• The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Hornets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
• The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Hornets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS win.
• The Hornets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Hornets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight-up win.
• The Hornets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games versus a team with a losing road record.
• The Hornets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The Hornets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The Hornets are 24-11-1 ATS in their last 36 home games against a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The Hornets are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games played in March.
• The hornets are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games.

Although the Hornets head to Wednesday with a five-game winning streak, they are at a huge disadvantage here.

This is a big spread. But remember that Phoenix will be having Durant’s extra scoring boost here. Meanwhile, the Hornets will be without LaMelo’s 23+ PPG scoring average.

Charlotte is 8-12 ATS this season when underdogs at home. In their last five losses, their average losing margin was 10.2 points per game. Plug in LaMelo’s absence, and the addition of Durant on the side of Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Hornets 128-97 in their most recent meeting last January 24. This one should not be any different.

Prediction: Suns -10

Suns vs Hornets Over/Under Prediction

The over is 12-4 in the last 16 games played between these two teams.

Phoenix Suns over/under trends:

• The under is 5-1 in the Suns’ last 6 road games.
• The under is 4-1 in the Suns’ last 5 road games versus a team with a losing home record.
• The under is 4-1 in the Suns’ last 5 road games versus a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
• The under is 10-4 in the Suns’ last 14 games against a team with a winning % below .400.
• The over is 6-2 in the Suns’ last 8 games following a straight-up loss.
• The over is 20-8 in the Suns’ last 28 games against a team with a losing straight-up record.

Charlotte Hornets over/under trends:

• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 overall.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 6-0 in the Hornets’ last 6 games following an ATS win.
• The under is 4-0 in the Hornets’ last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 5-0 in the Hornets’ last 5 games following a straight-up win.
• The under is 9-1 in the Hornets’ last 10 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 5-1 in the Hornets’ last 6 home games versus a team with a losing road record.
• The under is 7-2 in the Hornets’ last 9 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 7-2 in the Hornets’ last 9 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The under is 5-2 in the Hornets’ last 7 against a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The under is 35-16-1 in the Hornets’ last 52 home games.
• The under is 35-17-1 in the Hornets’ last 53 home games versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The over is 10-4 in the Hornets’ last 14 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The over is 5-2 in the Hornets’ last 7 Wednesday games.

The Suns will have Kevin Durant and he is worth 30 points per game. However, I don’t expect the transition to be seamless. Even the Suns themselves have said that there will be an adjustment period. And Monty Williams also said that KD will be on a minutes restriction.

Charlotte will be without LaMelo Ball who is their top scorer this season. Without Ball, the Hornets know that they can’t keep up with the Suns’ scoring so they must slow down the game and try to defend as hard as they can to have a chance of winning this game.

The under is 34-29 in the Hornets’ 63 games played this season. The under is also 32-29-1 in the Suns’ 62 games played this year.

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