Charlotte Hornets vs Phoenix Suns Picks and Prediction for Thursday November 12 2026

Charlotte heads to Phoenix on Thursday night for a 9 PM ET game at Mortgage Matchup Center. Neither team has been particularly impressive, although the Suns finally gave their fans something to cheer about Tuesday. Phoenix beat the Clippers 133-110, while Charlotte hasn’t played since beating Cleveland on Monday. The Hornets have had a couple of days to rest. Phoenix has the better offense, and that’s where I’m leaning. Verified U.S. betting lines weren’t available when this preview was prepared. Be ready for all the NBA action with our free NBA picks.

Charlotte Has Been Having Trouble Scoring

Charlotte is 4-7, including a 1-3 road record. The Hornets beat Cleveland 124-112 on Monday, which was a nice change after a rough stretch. Before that, Boston beat them 119-80. Eighty points in an NBA game. That’s pretty hard to swallow. Charlotte has been all over the place offensively, and it’s tough to trust a team when you don’t know whether it’s going to score 120 or struggle to reach 90.

The Hornets are averaging only 98.8 points per game, the lowest mark in the NBA, while allowing 110.4. The defense hasn’t been terrible, but the offense has been dragging everything down. Charlotte has also been shooting poorly, with an effective field-goal percentage around 48%. That’s another league-worst number. The Hornets have been decent on the offensive glass, but those extra possessions don’t mean much when they keep missing shots.

Brandon Miller leads Charlotte with 20.6 points per game, although he’s been dealing with a groin issue. Kon Knueppel is out with a leg injury, and Dennis Schroder has also been on the injury report. Moussa Diabate has been grabbing 9.1 rebounds per game, which matters against a Phoenix team that gives up plenty of second chances. Charlotte needs Miller healthy and productive. Without enough scoring from its perimeter players, the Hornets could have another long night.

Phoenix Finally Got Its Offense Going

Phoenix is 4-6 after beating the Clippers 133-110 on Tuesday. That’s the kind of offensive performance the Suns have been looking for. They’ve been inconsistent all season, but at least they’ve shown they can score when the shots are falling. Phoenix is 4-3 at home, and that’s a better situation than Charlotte’s road record.

The Suns are averaging 112.8 points per game and allowing 118.1. That’s not good defense, and it’s why Phoenix has been losing games even when the offense looks decent. The Suns are shooting better than Charlotte, though, and they’ve been taking better care of the basketball. Charlotte has been turning it over at a high rate, which could give Phoenix some easy baskets. The Suns need those opportunities because their half-court offense hasn’t always been dependable.

Devin Booker leads Phoenix with 25.1 points per game and is averaging 4.8 assists. That’s the kind of production Charlotte has been missing from its offense. Mark Williams is out with a shoulder injury, and Jordan Goodwin has also been unavailable. Phoenix needs its remaining frontcourt players to do a better job rebounding, particularly against a Charlotte team that crashes the offensive glass. Give the Hornets too many second chances, and this could get uncomfortable.

Charlotte Hornets vs Phoenix Suns Picks and Prediction

Moneyline Pick: Phoenix Suns

I’m taking Phoenix. The Suns haven’t been great, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlotte keeps this close. But the Hornets have been scoring fewer than 100 points a game. That’s a problem against anybody, even a Phoenix defense that’s allowing 118. The Suns just scored 133 against the Clippers, and I think they’ll carry some of that confidence into Thursday. Charlotte has the rest advantage, but Phoenix has the better offensive options. I’ll take the Suns at home.

Total Pick: Under — Pending Verified Line

I lean under, depending on the number. Charlotte plays one of the slower games in the league, and the Hornets haven’t been shooting well enough to support consistently high totals. Phoenix just scored 133, so I understand the argument for the over. The Suns also give up a lot of points. But Charlotte isn’t the Clippers, and I’m not convinced the Hornets can take advantage of every defensive mistake Phoenix makes. I could see something around 113-102 Suns. I’d want a total comfortably above that projection before betting the under.

Final Picks: Phoenix Suns Moneyline | Under (pending verified total)

Disclaimer: Completed November 11, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.