Royce O’Neale probable for Suns, Hornets to be without 2 players for rematch

Getting a massive 115-104 win over the Phoenix Suns last time out on Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets are heading to the Valley for the second and final game of the season between the two teams.

After both of their games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers were postponed due to the Southern California wildfires, the Hornets return to action without Grant Williams (right ACL tear) and Tre Mann (disc irritation). DaQuan Jeffries (illness) is questionable according to the NBA’s injury report.

Suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Williams underwent surgery to repair multiple tears in his knee. A physical force on both ends of the court, he played 16 games (seven starts), averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Mann, the No. 18 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has been dealing with a back injury over the past two weeks and will remain sidelined for Charlotte. The 23-year-old was averaging a career-best 14.1 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 13 games off the bench.

Undrafted guard Jeffries has played just eight games into his first season as a Hornet. Like Mann, he is averaging a career-high 7.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a game. He has split five years (2019-2022, 2023-25) between the Hornets, NBA G League, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks.

For the Suns, Royce O’Neale has been upgraded to probable after missing the past five games with a left ankle sprain.

The Suns and Hornets clash at 7 p.m. MST inside Footprint Center.