NBA: Hornets look to continue road winning streak in Phoenix

The Charlotte Hornets’ hot streak hit a snag Friday, while the Phoenix Suns managed to hold their ground.

Charlotte’s six-game winning streak ended in a 128-120 home loss to the Miami Heat. However, the Hornets will look to extend their 10-game road winning streak when they visit the Suns on Sunday.

Phoenix held on to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 118-116 after losing all but one point of a late 14-point lead on Friday.

“You know, we’ve talked a ton about how meaningful these games are in your last 20,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “Everyone is fighting for seeding, trying to get better, and ramping up their intensity to prepare for potential postseason action.”

Charlotte has been the hottest team in the league over the past seven weeks, going 16-4 to climb to the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference. They hold a four-game lead over 11th-place Milwaukee but are just three games behind sixth place with 18 games remaining.

During their six-game winning streak, the Hornets won every game by at least 15 points, tying the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors for the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history. The 2003-04 Detroit Pistons hold the record with eight consecutive wins by 15 or more points.

Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel led Charlotte with 27 points, while Brandon Miller added 22 and LaMelo Ball 21. Miami rallied late, capitalizing on seven of Charlotte’s 13 turnovers in the fourth quarter. Knueppel made six 3-pointers, and Ball hit five.

“Go back to the drawing board, have a nice flight, and just get back to what we do,” Miller said. “Play into our strengths—transition baskets, getting stops on defense—and we’ll be fine.”

Charlotte has not lost a road game since a 136-116 defeat to Golden State on Jan. 17.

“You lose a high-level game to a good team that was also on a roll, and you just learn, grow, and keep moving forward,” Lee said after the Miami loss.

The Suns, seventh in the Western Conference, rebounded from a narrow loss to Chicago to hold off New Orleans. They remain on the playoff bubble, two games behind sixth-place Los Angeles and 2½ games behind fifth-place Denver.

Devin Booker led Phoenix with 32 points, and Jalen Green added 25. It was the first time this season that the team’s projected top guard duo each scored 25 points in the same game. Green has been limited to 15 games and 10 starts due to injuries.

“His ability to get to the rim and past defenders, plus the underrated skill of making plays for teammates, is great to see—especially on the second night of a back-to-back,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said of Green.

Booker scored 18 points in the third quarter as the Suns led by as many as 14, even without Dillon Brooks (hand), Mark Williams (foot), and reserve Jordan Goodwin (calf).

Rookie reserve 7-foot-1 center Khaman Maluach, stepping up behind new starter Oso Ighodaro, contributed four points, four rebounds, and five blocked shots in a season-high 20:15 of play.

“It’s a great starting point,” Ott said. “Clean up the fouls, and he’ll be even better—that’s what we’re looking for.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters