The Suns’ offense goes to be a wholly totally different beast with Kevin Durant within the fold, however is that impact being overestimated tonight in opposition to the Hornets? See why our NBA picks suppose so.
The Phoenix Suns head to the Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets in NBA motion on Wednesday evening.
Kevin Durant is predicted to make his debut in a Suns uniform after being acquired on the commerce deadline three weeks in the past. With Durant becoming a member of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton in Phoenix, the Suns have sky-high expectations which start now as they enter as we speak’s contest as 10.5-point favorites on the street.
Can the banged-up Hornets decelerate Durant and his new teammates? I let you already know with my greatest free Suns vs. Hornets NBA picks and predictions for March 1.
Suns vs Hornets greatest odds
Suns vs Hornets picks and predictions
Kevin Durant will ultimately unlock one other degree to this Phoenix offense, however we have to mood these expectations for tonight — he is been out for nearly two months and will likely be on a minutes restriction.
He’ll additionally want to seek out his consolation zone alongside lead ball-handler Chris Paul and high-usage taking pictures guard Devin Booker. Add in a bench that does not shoot effectively (twenty eighth within the NBA with a 43.2 FG%) and the Phoenix group complete of 119.5 appears a bit too excessive.
Keep in thoughts that the Suns additionally play at a below-average tempo and common a modest 111.6 ppg on the street this season.
Although the Hornets aren’t precisely a very good defensive group, they do are inclined to play at a slower tempo and permit far fewer factors with out star level guard LaMelo Ball.
Ball suffered a season-ending damage on Monday, and whereas he is an enormous enhance on offense, the Hornets have been higher on D with out him. In truth, the Hornets enable 4.8 fewer factors per 100 possessions when Ball is off the ground in response to Cleaning The Glass.
My greatest wager: Suns group complete Under 119.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
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Suns vs Hornets unfold evaluation
The Suns are fourth within the Western Conference standings however simply three video games separate them from Tenth-place New Orleans. This is a group that has the second-best futures odds to win the NBA championship but additionally has query marks because of an unimpressive bench and a protection that has taken a major step again from final season.
The Suns have additionally struggled on the street, the place they’ve gone simply 12-19 straight up and most just lately misplaced 104-101 in Milwaukee on Sunday.
Durant will make their offense much more environment friendly — he was averaging 29.7 factors per recreation on 56/38/93 taking pictures splits for the Nets earlier than getting sidelined with an MCL damage on Jan. 8. He’s one of the vital gifted scorers in NBA historical past however will likely be on a minutes restriction tonight and might want to discover his match on this roster.
The Hornets have the fourth-worst report within the league at 20-43 with a web ranking of minus-5.7. They had been red-hot going 5-0 SU and ATS of their final 5 video games however that was due largely to the play of Ball, who fractured his ankle on Monday.
The Hornets have a 7-20 report with a web ranking of minus-7.5 this season with out Ball. In these 27 contests, they’d an offensive ranking of simply 107.4 however in 36 video games with Ball, that quantity perked as much as 113.2.
Starting ahead P.J. Washington (15.3 ppg) will even miss his third-straight recreation because of a foot sprain. With Ball and Washington sidelined, the Hornets will depend on Terry Rozier (21.4 ppg), Kelly Oubre (19.7 ppg), and Gordon Hayward (14.6 ppg) to get buckets.
Suns vs Hornets Over/Under evaluation
The Hornets are considerably worse on offense with out Ball but additionally enable far fewer factors per recreation. In 27 video games with out Ball, they’re permitting simply 108.7 ppg on 44.3% taking pictures from the sector.
That’s partially because of barely higher defensive metrics however one other issue is their drop-off in tempo with out Ball to push the tempo.
The Suns have been enjoying at a below-average tempo all season and are twenty second within the NBA in tempo.
The Suns are additionally a modest sixteenth within the league in offensive ranking however that must be weighed in opposition to the truth that Booker and Paul have missed a mixed 48 video games because of accidents. With a wholesome Paul, Booker, and Durant they may seemingly turn out to be one of many extra environment friendly offenses within the league.
In principle, they might additionally see regression on protection since they traded away two of their greatest wing defenders in Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson for Durant. That won’t essentially be the case nonetheless, since they’ve restricted opponents to 110.7 ppg on 44.6 FG% in six video games with out them.
Suns vs Hornets betting development to know
The Under is 5-1 within the Suns’ final six street video games whereas going 4-0 in Charlotte’s earlier 4 contests total. Find extra NBA betting traits for Suns vs. Hornets.
Suns vs Hornets recreation data
| Location: | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Sports Charlotte, Bally Sporrts Phoenix |
