The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Phoenix Suns 115-104 thanks to a dominant performance by LaMelo Ball, who finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds. In addition to Miles Bridges’s 21 points, bench player Nick Richards also chipped in with a double-double. Even with Devin Booker’s 39 points, Phoenix still lost.
Game Details: Phoenix Suns vs Charlotte Hornets
| Match | Phoenix Suns vs Charlotte Hornets |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, January 9, 2025 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Location | Spectrum Center, Charlotte |
| TV Channel | ESPN, Bally Sports Southeast |
| Live Stream | FuboTV, Sling TV, ESPN+ |
| Final Score | Suns 104 – Hornets 115 |
Phoenix Suns Match Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|—————-|——–|——–|——–|——–|——–|
| Devin Booker | 38:59 | 39 | 6 | 10 | 56.0 | 25.0 |
| Kevin Durant | 36:20 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 44.4 | 16.7 |
| Bradley Beal | 30:58 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 38.5 | 0.0 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 18:55 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 50.0 | 66.7 |
| Grayson Allen | 25:04 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 42.9 | 50.0 |
Charlotte Hornets Match Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|—————-|——–|——–|——–|——–|——–|
| LaMelo Ball | 35:09 | 32 | 10 | 7 | 42.9 | 31.3 |
| Miles Bridges | 36:46 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 47.1 | 40.0 |
| Mark Williams | 21:33 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 28.6 | 0.0 |
| Brandon Miller| 32:35 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 31.3 | 25.0 |
| Nick Richards | 25:18 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 66.7 | 0.0 |
Importance of the Match
One, Suns Fought Beyond Booker and Durant
Outside of its two stars, Phoenix’s offense was inconsistent. Shooting just 5-of-13 from the field, Bradley Beal managed a meager 10 points. The Suns’ comeback hopes were dashed when they made just 8 of 33 three-point attempts.
With LaMelo Ball At The helm
With 29 of his 32 points coming in the second half, Ball really came into his own. Thanks to his rebounds and playmaking, Charlotte was able to maintain control. In a game-changing move, he made four three-pointers that went in the final seconds.
Third, the Hornets’ Bench Was Essential
Coming off the bench, Nick Richards changed the game. He was instrumental in Charlotte’s 59-42 rebound victory over Phoenix, contributing 15 points and 12 boards.
Head-to-Head Stats: Suns vs Hornets
| Category | Phoenix Suns | Charlotte Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 104 | 115 |
| Rebounds | 42 | 59 |
| Assists | 27 | 23 |
| FG% | 42.4% | 38.8% |
| 3P% | 24.2% | 27.7% |
Charlotte dominated the rebounding battle, converted second-chance points, and made timely defensive stops to secure the win.
Important Game Points
Hornets’ Second Quarter Explosion
In the second quarter, Charlotte scored 37 points while Phoenix scored 17. The Hornets were up by a significant margin at halftime, thanks in large part to Ball’s 10 points.
Lost Chances for the Suns
Despite having several good opportunities, Phoenix was unable to score. The tone for Beal’s poor night was established when, at the end of the first quarter, he missed an open layup.
Impressive Final Play by Brandon Miller
After drawing two defenders, Ball passed the ball to Miller, who made a corner three-pointer with 1:21 remaining in the fourth quarter to put Charlotte up 11 points.
