The Charlotte Hornets vs Suns preview for Thursday centers on two teams trying to find consistency in the season’s early weeks. Charlotte (4-7) visits Phoenix (4-6) at Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, with tipoff set for 9 p.m. ET. The Hornets arrive shorthanded, while the Suns lean on Devin Booker’s scoring to carry a roster still missing center Mark Williams.
Hornets Vs Suns Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Venue: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
- TV/Streaming: Suns Live, Arizona’s Family 3TV
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
How Have These Teams Played Recently?
Charlotte snapped a four-game losing streak with a 124-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 10, a result covered in the Hornets’ win over the Cavaliers. Before that, the Hornets dropped four straight, including a 119-80 loss to the Boston Celtics and a 124-91 defeat to the Detroit Pistons, games detailed in the Celtics’ 119-80 win and the Pistons’ 124-91 result.
Phoenix has been erratic as well, going 3-2 over its last five with a 133-110 win over the LA Clippers on Nov. 11 sandwiched between a 122-96 loss to the San Antonio Spurs and a 102-99 win over the Houston Rockets. The Suns sit fifth in the Pacific Division at 4-6, five games behind the division-leading LA Lakers.
Who Is Out For Charlotte And Phoenix?
The Hornets’ injury list is the heaviest factor in this matchup. Forward Grant Williams is out with a right hamstring injury, and his return is listed for Nov. 12. Guard Kon Knueppel is out with a left hamstring strain with a return date listed as Dec. 12, while guard Dennis Schroder is out with a left hamstring strain and a listed return of Nov. 25.
Forward Brandon Miller is out with right groin soreness, with a return date of Nov. 15. Forward Moussa Diabate, Charlotte’s leading rebounder at 9.1 per game, is listed as day-to-day with a right quadriceps issue and a return date of Nov. 12.
Phoenix is without center Mark Williams, who is out following left shoulder surgery with a return date listed as Feb. 3, 2027. That absence has pushed more defensive rebounding responsibility onto the rest of the Suns’ frontcourt.
Who Steps Up With Charlotte’s Rotation Thinned Out?
With four rotation players out and Diabate questionable, Charlotte’s offense is expected to run through Naz Reid, who leads the team at 17.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Grayson Allen, the Hornets’ assist leader at 3.0 per game who scored 27 points in the win over Cleveland. The Hornets rank last among the two teams in scoring at 98.8 points per game on 40.0% shooting from the field, numbers that will be tested further if Diabate cannot go.
Can Devin Booker Carry Phoenix’s Offense Again?
Booker leads the Suns in both scoring (25.1 points) and assists (4.8) per game, and Phoenix’s offense has generated 112.8 points per game on 47.2% shooting, including a 37.6% mark from three. Miles Bridges leads Phoenix in rebounding at 7.4 per game and is expected to see an expanded role in the frontcourt with Williams sidelined.
Key Matchup: Hornets’ Frontcourt Depth Against Suns’ Rebounding Gap
Charlotte’s offensive rebounding average of 15.0 per game outpaces Phoenix’s 10.8, a gap that could widen with Mark Williams out for the Suns. If Diabate is cleared to play, his 9.1 rebounds per game give Charlotte a path to extra possessions against a Phoenix frontcourt already thin at center. The Hornets’ 17.7 turnovers per game remain the bigger obstacle, well above Phoenix’s 13.9, and those giveaways have fueled transition points for opponents over Charlotte’s recent four-game skid.
What To Watch
Both teams sit below .500 early in the season, with Charlotte two and a half games back in the Southeast Standings and Phoenix five games back in the Pacific. Charlotte’s ability to manage its depleted rotation against a Phoenix team playing its fourth game in five nights will shape how competitive this matchup stays through four quarters. The Hornets’ response after Monday’s win over Cleveland, detailed in the Cavaliers vs Hornets preview, will be an early test of whether that result reflects real progress or a short-term bump against a thinned Phoenix roster.
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