Charlotte Hornets vs Phoenix Suns: Prediction and Preview

The Charlotte Hornets’ matchup against the Phoenix Suns is as high-stakes as it gets with six games left in the regular season. Charlotte, sitting eighth in the East at 40-36, share the same record as the ninth-place Magic,  meaning every result from here on out directly shapes their play-in destiny. Phoenix, meanwhile, are seventh in the West at 42-34 and face an equally brutal run-in that makes this a must-win away from home.

Charlotte Hornets vs Phoenix Suns: Prediction and Preview

The Hornets come into this game on the back of a two-game skid. They lost to the Celtics and 76ers before gaining an emphatic win over the Nets Tuesday, 117-86. That reaction showed the character of this group. They bounced back without making excuses and now face their stiffest remaining test.

Charlotte’s Form

Despite the recent blip, the bigger picture for Charlotte remains impressive. Since the start of 2026, the Hornets hold the sixth-best record in the NBA. Over their last 15 games, they rank seventh in offensive rating. The Hornets shoot 37.9% from deep, third-best in the NBA, and their volume from range puts constant pressure on opposing defenses.

What makes this team dangerous is that they do not rely on a single player to carry the load.  Multiple players step up night after night. LaMelo Ball has been particularly sharp over the last 15 games, averaging 20.7 points and shooting 36% from three. Meanwhile, Kon Knueppel, currently going through a slight dip in form, still leads the NBA in three-pointers made this season with 257, holding off Luka Doncic of the Lakers, who has 253. Even in a quieter patch, Knueppel’s threat from distance forces defenses into constant adjustments.

Phoenix’s Form

The Suns have had a turbulent season of their own, but Devin Booker has been their rock. Over his last ten games, Booker has averaged 28.4 points and 5.5 assists. The recent return of Dillon Brooks added another layer to their lineup, though he lasted 22 minutes due to foul trouble as he shook off the rust from being out since late February. If Brooks can stay disciplined on Thursday, Phoenix becomes a more complete team.

Defensively, Phoenix ranks 8th in the NBA over the last ten games. Their offense, however, has been inconsistent, scoring just 112.9 points per game on the season, 25th in the league.

They will look to this game as a winnable one given their victory over Charlotte in the last meeting, when they held the Hornets to just 99 points. Furthermore, they face a tough remaining schedule, so a win here would be crucial for their standing in the West.

Injury Report

Charlotte Hornets:  PJ Hall is out with right ankle soreness. Otherwise, the Hornets are close to full strength.

Phoenix Suns:  Amir Coffey is out with a left ankle sprain. Haywood Highsmith is out with right knee injury management. Mark Williams is listed as questionable with a left foot stress reaction.

Prediction

In this Hornets vs Suns matchup, the stakes could not be higher for both sides. Charlotte has home-court advantage, superior three-point shooting, and a roster built exactly for these moments. The two-game skid was a bump, not a crisis. Against a Phoenix team that is 18-19 on the road and has lost five of their last six away games, this is a very winnable game for the Hornets.

However, this game cannot be taken lightly. Booker is in form and the last meeting ended in Phoenix’s favor. Charlotte needs LaMelo to control the pace, Knueppel to find his range again and their depth to show up the way it has throughout this remarkable year.

Prediction: Hornets win

Tip-off: Thursday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. EST