Charlotte Hornets starting lineups Phoenix Suns road trip opener, Digi Mart USA News: The purple and teal open their four-game road trip tonight in the desert against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Charlotte split its two late-season meetings with Phoenix last year.
With the Suns currently sporting a bottom-three defense and ranking last in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage, the Hornets have a chance to find some early-season success on the road, even with their depleted rotation. Here are the starting fives for both teams.
Guard Coby White is viewed as a favorable matchup for Charlotte’s offense, much like Cleveland was. Phoenix lacks plus defenders throughout much of its rotation, particularly at the point of attack, which should allow White to get into the paint and generate drive-and-kick opportunities.
The Goldsboro native has struggled shooting as he continues to get his legs under him, but a strong performance from him would go a long way toward securing a Hornets win.
Guard Grayson Allen, a former Phoenix Sun, has been a tremendous addition for Charlotte, playing like one of the best shooters in the league right now. Allen ranks in the 98th percentile in points per shot attempt among combo guards, shooting 48% on catch-and-shoot triples and 40% on pull-up threes.
He has also held up reasonably well defensively, and with Charlotte shorthanded, the Hornets will need him to continue his play tonight.
Forward Sion James, a second-year player and former second-round pick, has put together a nice stretch over his last four games, with a 67.2% effective field goal percentage while shooting 47% from three. James is doing enough offensively to complement his defensive impact.
Forward Naz Reid has had a tumultuous first few weeks, from being benched for the entire second half against Detroit to questions about his desire to be in Charlotte and his up-and-down play. Reid has been a productive offensive player most nights but needs to be better defensively, particularly in guarding the ball, providing weak-side help and staying disciplined with his gap assignments.
Center Moussa Diabaté has the lowest on/off net rating swing on the team, suggesting a slow start, though the eye test does not match that. He still leads the league with 5.22 offensive rebounds per game, plays with a relentless motor, generates steals and makes an impact on both ends.
He needs to clean up turnovers. Ryan Kalkbrenner filled in admirably in the starting five against Cleveland, and the two have been Charlotte’s best position group through the first 11 games.
Phoenix guard Jalen Green, the former No. 2 overall pick, has been tasked with serving as the Suns’ pseudo-primary ball handler and point guard, a role he has not previously held in his NBA career. He is in the 16th percentile in points per shot attempt among players at his position, while averaging career lows in points per game, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
He has also struggled with turnovers, posting a 17.2% turnover rate.
Guard Devin Booker has been one of the most consistent star guards in the NBA and has delivered excellent scoring performances night to night to open the 2026-27 season. The 30-year-old has been a high-usage, highly efficient offensive force, recording a plus-3.1 offensive DPM and a plus-1.8 RAPM.
Booker will be a problem for Charlotte all night.
Forward Dillon Brooks has slipped defensively during his time in Phoenix but remains a useful offensive player who brings physicality to the lineup. He is averaging around 15 points, four rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Forward Miles Bridges, who suited up for 501 regular-season games across seven seasons with the Hornets, will face Charlotte as an opponent for the first time in his NBA career. The 28-year-old has been a quality starter for Phoenix after being traded in the offseason in a deal that netted Charlotte Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and an unprotected 2033 Suns first-round pick.
Center Oso Ighodaro has been a second-round steal for Phoenix, an impressive processor for a big man with excellent feel in dribble handoffs and short-roll situations. His 21.4% assist percentage reflects that, and he is an effective screener and versatile defender with adequate two-way value.
