March 6, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after scoring in the first half against the Miami Heat at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Image The surging Charlotte Hornets hit a speed bump on Friday in what appeared to be an inexorable march toward the postseason.
The Phoenix Suns avoided one.
The Hornets snapped a six-game winning streak with a 128-120 loss to Miami, but will attempt to extend that streak with their 10th straight win on the road against the host Suns on Sunday.
The Suns held on to just one of a 14-point second-half lead and beat New Orleans 118-116 on Friday.
“We’ve talked a lot about how meaningful these games have been over the last 20 years,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “Everyone is fighting for seeding, everyone is fighting to get better, and everyone is trying to increase intensity to properly prepare for potential postseason action.”
The Hornets have been the hottest team in the league over the past seven weeks, sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 16-4 record. They are four games ahead of 11th-place Milwaukee, but only three games behind sixth place with 18 games remaining.
Charlotte has won every game of its last six by at least 15 points, tying the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors for the second-longest winning streak in league history. The 2003-04 Detroit Pistons hold the record with eight.
Rookie of the Year hopefuls Kon Knueppel (27 points), Brandon Miller (22 points) and LaMelo Ball (21 points) led the Hornets against Miami, which bounced back late when the Hornets committed seven of 13 turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Kneuppel made six 3-pointers and Ball made five.
“Go back to the drawing board,” Miller said. “Just have a good flight, get back to what we’re doing, play to our strengths – transition baskets, defensive stops – and we’ll be fine.”
Charlotte hasn’t lost on the road since losing 136-116 to Golden State on Jan. 17.
“We lost a high-level game to a good team, but we just have to learn, grow and keep moving forward,” Lee said after the Miami loss.
The Suns, seventh in the Western Conference, bounced back from a two-point loss to Chicago to hold off the Pelicans. They are two games behind the sixth-place Los Angeles Lakers and 2 1/2 behind fifth-place Denver for a guaranteed playoff spot.
Devin Booker (32 points) and Jalen Green (25) led the Suns in scoring against New Orleans, marking the first time this season that the projected top guard combo each had 25 points in the same game. Injuries limited Green to 15 games and 10 starts.
“His ability to get to the rim, his ability to beat defenders,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said of Green. “An underrated skill he has is his ability to make plays for his teammates. It’s great to see that, especially for the second night in a row.”
Booker, playing without Dylan Brooks (hand), Mark Williams (foot) and reserve Jordan Goodwin (calf), scored 18 points in the third quarter when the Suns led by as many as 14 points.
The Suns’ rookie reserve center, 7-foot-1 center Kaman Maluach, will likely get more call-up in Williams’ absence, succeeding new starter Oso Igodaro, and recorded four points, four rebounds, five blocks and two fouls in a season-high 20:15 minutes of playing time.
“This is a great starting point,” Ott said. “If we clean him up (the foul), he’ll get better. That’s what we’re looking for.”
–Field level media
