The Charlotte Hornets (19-17) host the Phoenix Suns (27-8) Sunday at the Spectrum Center for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the Suns vs. Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Phoenix has lost three of its past four games (1-3 against the spread), including the most recent 123-108 at the Boston Celtics as 3.5-point road favorites Friday.
The Suns are 4-3 straight-up (SU), 3-4 ATS and 5-2 Over/Under over the past two weeks with the seventh-best non-garbage time net rating at plus-7.7 points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
Charlotte enters on a three-game winning streak (3-0 ATS). The Hornets won at the Denver Nuggets 115-107 Dec. 23, at home vs. the Houston Rockets 123-99 Monday and at the Indiana Pacers 116-108 Wednesday.
In the last 14 days, the Hornets are 3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS and 1-4 O/U with the 19th-ranked non-garbage time net rating at minus-0.6 points per 100 possessions.
The Suns (-8) beat the brakes off of the Hornets 137-106 in their first regular-season meeting Dec. 19 and the Over cashed on a 232-point total.
Suns at Hornets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:02 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Suns -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Hornets +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread (ATS): Suns -2.5 (-112) | Hornets +2.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 231.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Suns at Hornets key injuries
Suns
- C Deandre Ayton (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Jae Crowder (health and safety protocols) out
- C JaVale McGee (health and safety protocols) out
Hornets
- SF Miles Bridges (return to action reconditioning) questionable
- PF P.J. Washington (reconditioning) questionable
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Suns at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 119, Suns 116
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” to the Hornets (+115) because I like Charlotte plus the points in this spot, but the money line payout isn’t fat enough to take a shot at the Hornets winning outright.
According to Pregame.com, there’s significant reverse line movement in Charlotte’s direction as roughly 80% of the action is on Phoenix’s money line, but the Hornets are losing value. It’s a red flag whenever sportsbooks make the more popular side cheaper.
Against the spread
BET HORNETS +2.5 (-108) for 1 unit since this line is suspiciously low considering how badly Phoenix beat Charlotte a couple of weeks back. However, it makes more sense when looking at the injury report for the Suns.
Ayton and McGee combined for 34 points on 75.0% shooting (15-for-20), 22 rebounds and 4 blocks vs. the Hornets Dec. 19 and Crowder scored 14 points on 95.6% true shooting (.667/.750/1.000). The absence of these three Suns is important since Phoenix is cheap in this spot.
Furthermore, the line movement suggests that the Hornets should be getting Bridges and/or Washington back for this game.
According to Pregame.com, this is a Pros vs. Joe’s game with the presumed sharp money backing Charlotte, but more bets have been placed on Phoenix. Typically in sports betting, it’s profitable to follow the money especially when it’s flowing in the opposite direction as the public.
Also, the Hornets have covered four straight games and have played really well in Charlotte this season. The Hornets are 9-4 at home with the 10th-best adjusted net rating at plus-4.9 points per 100 possessions and the third-best spread differential at a plus-5.6 ATS margin.
BET HORNETS +2.5 (-108).
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the OVER 231.5 (-110) for a one-third unit only because I much prefer Charlotte plus the points more than the total in this game.
Both teams play at a top-five pace (Charlotte ranks second, Phoenix is fifth) and are top-five in effective field-goal shooting (Phoenix ranks fourth, Charlotte is fifth).
Also, the Suns get out in transition more often when their bigs are off the floor, Phoenix is 4-0 O/U in its last four vs. teams with a winning record and Charlotte is 3-0-1 O/U in its last four as a home underdog.
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