Suns @ Hornets Thursday Game Thread, 4-2-2026

[BooksOrangePlanet]

it's another road game facing another team in the eastern play-in battle - this time it's the charlotte hornets - this thursday at 4:00

phoenix falls to 43-33 with 7 games remaining before the play-in just 2 weeks away

charlotte is 40-36 and have won 7 of their last 10 - they're tied with miami for the 9th and 10th seeds - and they're both a half game behind orlando (8th seed)

location: spectrum center, charlotte

when: thursday, april 2nd, 2026

television: azfamily 3 / nba tv

time: 4:00 pm arizona time

 

[Covert Rain]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when it counts.

 

[JRakes]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when

Bad take.

At least this year we beat the bad teams. Last year was putrid

 

[AzStevenCal]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when it counts.

I agree except there's no "meh" here for me. I love watching this team and I love what they can be in a couple of years. This time last year, I wasn't sure we'd see meaningful basketball for close to a decade. We're not a threat but we have talent to develop and build around.

 

[Covert Rain]

I agree except there's no "meh" here for me. I love watching this team and I love what they can be in a couple of years. This time last year, I wasn't sure we'd see meaningful basketball for close to a decade. We're not a threat but we have talent to develop and build around.

Hence…”unless it leads somewhere”.

 

[Phrazbit]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when it counts.

I'd say their significantly better.

For one.. they've won a lot more games, which should be the basic metric, and secondly, even when they lose, they don't just roll over and die.

Last years team, clearly, did not give a flying poop about how the season was going to pan out and it was obvious pretty early. This year's team is the opposite. They care and it is obvious.

 

[Covert Rain]

I'd say their significantly better.

For one.. they've won a lot more games, which should be the basic metric, and secondly, even when they lose, they don't just roll over and die.

Last years team, clearly, did not give a flying poop about how the season was going to pan out and it was obvious pretty early. This year's team is the opposite. They care and it is obvious.

I am talking purely results at the end of the day (including playoffs) which remains to be seen. I don't question the character of the team. It's vastly better. This team actually tries. At the end of the day though, the only thing that matters to me is building a contender. We are coming up on 60 years (in 2 years) I believe. Fielding fun teams is like a fun night out partying. The next day hangover sucks. Yes, a fun team is better but it's still not good enough which is why I am saying this has to lead to something or it's pointless FOR ME.

 

[Carolinacacti]

I'll be at the game center court. Hopefully they play better then last night

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

we're competing but not closing - that's the difference- we were the best crunch time (last 3 minutes) team in the league at one point

we started the year struggling learning how to play together before finding our way - we're now doing the same thing at the end of the year - i don't blame this on jalen - we're a new team again all the time right now - more lineups than law & order

we haven't been good at closing since dillon and williams left - just so happens it's when jalen got back - but if we're talking about jalen let's get into it

jalen green was given the green light in the first quarter - primary scorer - getting back to getting buckets - here you go jalen knock yourself out

that's when we got the real jalen green data - especially when both book and brooks were out - jalen loves to shoot the ball like kobe did- literally thinks they're all going in - even on bad nights he keeps shooting trying to find that rhythm

this should make you most appreciative of devin booker - jalen is going through what book went through - finding out he's not kobe - discovering team ball is how to win

can jalen mature on the fly? last night said he's no where close - the shots weren't falling and he still wasn't passing unless he lost his dribble - so what do you do?

i don't think jalen is a selfish player i think he's a young go getter trying to find his place on this new team

i think the real story is ott - is he simply tinkering right now knowing the 7th seed is all but locked - trying more new lineups or did he really think dunn and maluach couldn't have helped last night defending the paint and rim? where we were getting straight destroyed - what's up with that?

goody dunn fleming and maluach was the dope lineup the night before - idk- im one grateful hippie for all that ott's done here in his very first year but maluach wasn't the problem and dunn never got a chance in a game where we clearly were lacking in height and defense - am i right?

i really didn't like dunn not playing after the way he's been playing and if maluach made a few mistakes i get the benching but not for the rest of the game i mean khaman

 

[Dback Jon]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when it counts.

I disagree that they are marginally better. I think they are a lot better, not only with results, but with the outlook on the future.

Yes, they will likely be a quick bounce from the playoffs, and yes, injuries had big part of not getting a top 6 seed, but with the development of the rookies and Oso, what Brooks, Williams and Gillespie has shown (Provided we can resign him, which I think we will), what looked like a playoff drought for the next 5 years looks to be done.

 

[Mainstreet]

Playing defense has become only a sometime thing for the Suns with the exception of Jordan Goodwin.

This is the part that bothers me the most about the team. It leaves me wondering why.

 

[Proximo]

With 7 games to go, I think you can say this team is only marginally better than last year's team. Mainly because they can't stay healthy long enough to form any cohesion. My guess is if they get bounced early this is going to be the reason.

More fun to watch? Sure, but ultimately meh unless it leads somewhere. Let's hope they can come together when it counts.

Sorry that is nonsense. This team is far far better than last years team.

They have been awful as of late in the 4th Qtr, but when mostly healthy this team can beat anyone.

Do they get bounced early - yeah probably - but that is what usually happens when a 7 seed goes against a 2 seed.

 

[Proximo]

Playing defense has become only a sometime thing for the Suns with the exception of Jordan Goodwin.

This is the part that bothers me the most about the team. It leaves me wondering why.

I really don't think it's so much the team is not putting effort in on defense, but more teams have figured out a better way to attack our defense. They are taking advantage of our aggressiveness to tightly cover the 3 point line.

Mark Williams would help some as he is a better rim defender than Oso. I think in general we are playing small too much.

 

[Mainstreet]

Mark Williams has been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE. That's an improvement. There is a chance he could play tomorrow.

@GeraldBourguet
·
1h

Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction) has been upgraded to questionable for tomorrow’s Suns game. Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain) remain out

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

Mark Williams has been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE. That's an improvement. There is a chance he could play tomorrow.

https://x.com/GeraldBourguet
@GeraldBourguet
·
1h


Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction) has been upgraded to questionable for tomorrow’s Suns game. Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain) remain out

wow - idk where williams' cardio is right now but honestly maluach has only playing 3 to 4 minute spurts - if the foot is good hopefully williams can get some games in

 

[Covert Rain]

Sorry that is nonsense. This team is far far better than last years team.

They have been awful as of late in the 4th Qtr, but when mostly healthy this team can beat anyone.

Do they get bounced early - yeah probably - but that is what usually happens when a 7 seed goes against a 2 seed.

Try reading again. Evidently, your comprehension is nonsense. I had a follow-up to clarify I was talking about final results.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really don't think it's so much the team is not putting effort in on defense, but more teams have figured out a better way to attack our defense. They are taking advantage of our aggressiveness to tightly cover the 3 point line.

Mark Williams would help some as he is a better rim defender than Oso. I think in general we are playing small too much.

The Suns seem to turn playing defense on and off in spurts. If everyone played as hard as Jordan Goodwin, there would be no problem.

We agree, the Suns are too small especially with no one to guard the basket.

 

[Covert Rain]

Playing defense has become only a sometime thing for the Suns with the exception of Jordan Goodwin.

This is the part that bothers me the most about the team. It leaves me wondering why.

I think not having both Brooks and Williams combined is a major factor IMO.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think not having both Brooks and Williams combined is a major factor IMO.

The team not playing together is a factor, but if Goodwin can bring the energy on defense every night, so should the others.

Somehow, someway, the Suns need to fix their paint defense.

 

[Mainstreet]

Haywood Highsmith is ruled OUT.

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[Mainstreet]

Amir Coffee is OUT as well.

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[Mainstreet]

Mark Williams remains QUESTIONABLE.

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[Chaplin]

Mark Williams remains QUESTIONABLE.

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Why isn't Oso there putting up 1000 free throws?

 

[Adrian]

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[Mainstreet]

Why isn't Oso there putting up 1000 free throws?

Maybe he is, it's hard to know. What I don't hear is a specific coaching working with him in regard to improving his shooting mechanics.