Free NBA Pick: Suns vs. Hornets NBA Odds
Looking for Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Hornets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Suns taking on the Hornets on Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 at Spectrum Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Suns-Hornets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(27-8) Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Hornets (19-17)
Date: Sunday, January 2nd, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Spectrum Center
NBA Moneyline Odds: Suns -136 | Hornets +127 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Suns -2.5
NBA Betting Total: 231.5
On Sunday, January 2nd the Phoenix Suns play the Charlotte Hornets for the second and final time this regular season. The Suns won the initial meeting 137-106 on December 19th.
The Suns arrive following a loss (108-123) to the Celtics on Friday while the Hornets have been idle since Wednesday when they beat the Pacers 116-108.
Last season, the squads played twice with the teams each winning on the road. The Suns hold the all-time record having bested the Hornets in 38 of their 63 matches.
Phoenix Suns
With three losses in their last four games one could ask if the Suns are replicating the start of the season and are about to go on an 18 game winning streak.
Seriously, part of the issues tied to the recent regression is tied to core contributors being sidelined by health and safety protocols.
Factor in the psychological aspect of getting through the two games versus the Warriors and the dog days of winter taking a toll and while the Suns aren’t likely to go on a similar winning streak they also aren’t likely to continue losing.
Another factor is not having head coach Monty Williams patrolling the sidelines which punctuates just how influential he is and how the team adapts when he’s coaching.
Phoenix isn’t going to keep losing but the current issue is how decimated their frontcourt is and in particular their centers. Both Ayton and JaVale McGee are in protocols and won’t return Sunday.
Factor in Dario Saric (knee) is still out rehabbing his torn ACL and Frank Kaminsky is out with a stress reaction in his knee. Even playing Crowder in a small-ball center lineup isn’t in the equation as he too is in protocols.
In addition to the bigs, Abdel Nader (quarantine) is out and Chandler Hutchinson (knee) is questionable.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are on a three-game winning streak courtesy of the Nuggets, Rockets, and Pacers. In the win versus the Pacers five Hornets scored in double-figures with Terry Rozier having a game putting up 35 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
LaMelo Ball flirted with a triple-double posting 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists while Mason Plumlee came just short of a double-double with eight points and 12 rebounds.
Gordon Hayward (18), Kelly Oubre (13), and Jalen McDaniels (12) were the other double-figure scorers.
Miles Bridges and PJ Washington are out of quarantine working on conditioning and questionable as is Scottie Lewis.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix’s last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte’s last 5 games.
Free Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Hornets NBA Prediction:
Clearly the Suns’ frontcourt is decimated so they’ll need to juggle small-ball lineups and rely on 6’6″ rookie Ish Wainwright and 6’10” second-year player Jalen Smith to man the frontcourt.
The good news is the Hornets don’t have a rim-protecting big and their greatest weakness is also the glass where they rank 24th and allow opponents to score 47.6 (ranks 20th) points in the paint.
On the positive side of the equation, the Suns are a solid defensive squad (2nd ranked) and even with a thin frontcourt their defensive principles don’t change so the key will be slowing the Hornets’ pace, transition opportunities, and crashing the glass.
In contrast, if James Borrego is on his game he’ll recognize attacking the Suns in the paint and on the glass is the recipe for success.
Either way, I think this game is a coin toss and comes down to the final shot.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hornets +2.5
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