The healthy Phoenix Suns will look to improve their playoff positioning when they visit the lowly Charlotte Hornets tonight as 9.5-point favorites according to the NBA odds.
Phoenix is still looking to get off the play-in bubble but has all three of its biggest stars healthy — a rare situation for the Suns this year. Charlotte is struggling through a season dedicated to developing its young roster, including rookie forward Brandon Miller.
Phoenix has as many weapons as any team in the NBA, and it’s going to be tough for Charlotte to shut them all down. I’ll break down what this means for bettors in my free NBA picks for the Suns vs. Hornets on March 15.
Suns vs Hornets odds
Suns vs Hornets predictions
The Phoenix Suns have played 66 games so far this season. Kevin Durant (28.3 points per game) has played 59 of those games, Devin Booker (27.4 ppg) has played 52, and Bradley Beal (18.7 ppg) has been in just 37. Getting all three on the court at the same time has been a challenge, as the trio has only played together 20 times this year.
The Suns have been just okay with the three on the court together, going 12-8 in those 20 games. However, they've averaged 120.5 ppg when they all suit up — close to four points above their season average. Having these three big weapons together makes an already potent offense all but unstoppable.
The Charlotte Hornets aren't exactly a defensive powerhouse, either. The Hornets are allowing an average of 117 ppg, which rates a respectable 19th in the NBA. However, most of the teams below them on the list play at fast paces, while Charlotte is about dead average in that category. Teams are shooting 49.3% from the field against the Hornets, which ranks 27th in the league.
The young Charlotte roster is still learning to play together and has been shaky on both sides of the court. It doesn’t help that LaMelo Ball (23.9 ppg) has played in just 22 games this year. Ball is out with an ankle injury, and the Hornets are also missing depth options in Seth Curry, Mark Williams, and Bryce McGowens.
Normally, I might be a bit concerned about a team’s offense on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Suns have scored at least 107 points in each of their last 20 games. There’s a consistency to Phoenix’s scoring that few teams enjoy, and I feel confident they’ll want to rebound with a strong performance against a weak Charlotte squad after suffering a loss to the Boston Celtics last night. The Suns need wins and can’t afford to take a night off.
My best bet: Over 218.5 (-108 at DraftKings)
Suns vs Hornets same-game parlay
Over 218.5
Suns -10
Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points
I like the Suns offense to dominate tonight, and I’ve picked a three-leg same-game parlay that hits that idea from every angle. It starts with taking the Over, and continues with a bet on the Suns to cover the 10-point spread. That’s a lot of points, but there’s a wide talent gulf between these two teams, and Phoenix will give all of its starters plenty of minutes as it wants to secure the win tonight.
On the same note, I’ll take Kevin Durant to hit the Over on his scoring prop at 26.5 points. Durant is averaging 28.3 ppg on the season, and has scored at least 30 points in five of his last seven games. He should be able to get to 27 without too much trouble tonight.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Suns vs Hornets spread and Over/Under analysis
The Suns opened tonight’s game as 9.5-point favorites. Most books have since moved to Phoenix -10 as the main line, and you can get slight -108 discounts on either side of that spread by shopping around.
Neither team has performed well against the spread this season. Charlotte is 27-39 ATS while Phoenix has been even worse for bettors, going 25-39-2.
Tonight’s total opened at 217 points before moving slightly, with the consensus Over/Under now sitting at 218.5. You may still find a few books offering 218 or even 217.5, with a variety of different lines available depending on where you look.
Both teams have come in below the number regularly this year. The Under holds the 35-31 advantage in Charlotte’s games, and has put up an even better 37-29 record when the Suns play this season.
While those numbers might point us towards the Under, the total has been set surprisingly low tonight. The Suns haven’t played a game below tonight’s total in their last seven games, and with their full complement of scorers back in the lineup, they should be able to push the score higher than the Hornets are comfortable with. I’m backing the Over in tonight’s game.
Suns vs Hornets betting trend to know
The Suns have played to totals of 224 or higher in seven straight games. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Hornets.
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Suns vs Hornets game info
| Location: | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date: | Friday, March 15, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Arizona, Bally SE Charlotte |
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