Suns vs Hornets Preview: playoff chase vs young stars

Thursday night in Charlotte, two teams nobody expected to be this good are meeting with playoff stakes on the line. The Phoenix Suns sit at 42-34, seventh in the West, while the Charlotte Hornets are 40-36, holding the eighth spot in the East. Both teams defied expectations this season, making this matchup one of the more compelling games of Week 24.

Phoenix was supposed to rebuild after trading Kevin Durant to Houston. Instead, Dillon Brooks stepped up offensively, averaging nearly 21 points per game alongside his intense defense. Devin Booker became the clear engine, averaging about 25 points and nearly 7 assists per game. With Grayson Allen hitting perimeter shots and center Mark Williams anchoring the defense, Phoenix turned a reset year into a legitimate playoff chase.

The Hornets finished 19-63 last season, but this year everything changed. LaMelo Ball is orchestrating at an elite level, averaging about 20 points and nearly 9 assists per game. Rookie Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick, is averaging more than 19 points per game while on pace to challenge the NBA rookie record for three-pointers. Brandon Miller adds another 18 points nightly as Charlotte's two-way wing.

Booker's recent 31-point outburst against Atlanta shows he can take over any game. However, LaMelo Ball delivered 24 points and 8 rebounds against New Orleans, proving he can match that intensity. Although Haywood Highsmith and Amir Coffey are both out for Phoenix, the Suns remain dangerous. If Charlotte's young shooters stay hot, they could hand Phoenix a costly road loss in the playoff race.