Getting a massive 115-104 win over the Phoenix Suns last time out on Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets are heading to the Valley for the second and final game of the season between the two teams.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!For the Suns, Royce O’Neale has been upgraded to probable after missing the past five games with a left ankle sprain and Jusuf Nurkić (illness) is out.
A steady contributor as a sub, O’Neale has been impressive this season and has been nearing a return over the past few days. Now probable, the Texas native is close and could very well play against Charlotte. O’Neale is tallying 10.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Sitting out the past two games, Nurkić’s name pops up on the injury report. After starting, being suspended for an altercation and moving to the bench, the 7-foot center is averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
After both of their games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers were postponed due to the Southern California wildfires, the Hornets return to action without Grant Williams (right ACL tear) and Tre Mann (disc irritation). DaQuan Jeffries (illness) is questionable according to the NBA’s injury report.
Suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Williams underwent surgery to repair multiple tears in his knee. A physical force on both ends of the court, he played 16 games (seven starts), averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Mann, the No. 18 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has been dealing with a back injury over the past two weeks and will remain sidelined for Charlotte. The 23-year-old was averaging a career-best 14.1 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 13 games off the bench.
Undrafted guard Jeffries has played just eight games into his first season as a Hornet. Like Mann, he is averaging a career-high 7.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a game. He has split five years (2019-2022, 2023-25) between the Hornets, NBA G League, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks.
The Suns and Hornets clash at 7 p.m. MST inside Footprint Center.
Suns coach reveals Jusuf Nurkić is handling benching like ‘a pro’
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
