Charlotte Hornets

Hornets Gameday: at Phoenix Suns

Charlotte Hornets' Jeremy Lin, bottom, battles for possession against Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 111-101.
Charlotte Hornets' Jeremy Lin, bottom, battles for possession against Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 111-101. AP

9 p.m., Talking Stick Resort Arena

TV: Fox Sports Southeast. Radio: WFNZ-AM 610.

Projected Starters

Hornets

Suns

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

G K. Walker

19.3

4.3

G B. Knight

19.6

3.8

G J. Lin

11.9

3.2

G D. Booker

7.0

1.4

F P. Hairston

5.9

2.4

F T. Warrren

11.4

3.4

F M. Williams

9.3

6.8

F P. Tucker

6.5

5.4

C C. Zeller

8.7

5.6

C T. Chandler

5.3

7.3

Matchup to Watch

Kemba Walker vs. Brandon Knight: With Nic Batum and Al Jefferson injured, Walker has to have a great night to keep the Hornets in a game.

Observations

▪ The Suns have lost nine in a row, including a pummeling courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers, the only team in the Western Conference with a record worse than the Suns.

▪ Suns coach Jeff Hornacek’s job security looks fragile after management fired two of Hornacek’s assistants in response to the recent struggles.

Tap-ins

▪ After playing three games in four nights with a cross-country trip in between, the Hornets will get a two-day break after this game before playing the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Saturday.

▪ Tyson Chandler, a former Charlotte Bobcat, signed with the Suns as a free agent last summer.

Did you know?

This franchise hasn’t done too well of late against the Suns, who have won six of the pst seven vs. the Hornets.

Rick Bonnell

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Hornets Gameday: at Phoenix Suns."

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