The Phoenix Suns face the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, April 2, in a 7:00 p.m. ET matchup with playoff positioning at stake for both teams.
Phoenix enters the game seventh in the Western Conference at 42-34, while Charlotte sits eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 40-36 record. Both clubs are currently in the play-in range, which increases the importance of late-season availability.
The Suns list three players on their injury report ahead of the matchup, including starting center Mark Williams, who is questionable due to a stress reaction in the third metatarsal of his left foot.
Williams has played a key role in Phoenix’s interior structure this season. The 7-footer averages 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 63.3% from the field in 56 games.
Two additional Phoenix players are ruled out. Amir Coffey will miss the game with a left ankle sprain, while Haywood Highsmith remains sidelined as part of right knee injury management.
Coffey has appeared in 13 games this season and averages 4.1 points in limited minutes off the bench. Highsmith has played only six games while contributing 5.5 points per contest.
Despite the injuries, Phoenix still features a strong perimeter offense led by Devin Booker. The All-Star guard averages 25.8 points and 6.0 assists while playing 33.3 minutes per game. Dillon Brooks has also provided consistent production with 20.6 points per game.
Charlotte enters the matchup with five players listed on its injury report, although most of the absences involve developmental assignments.
Tosan Evbuomwan, Liam McNeeley, Antonio Reeves, and Tidjane Salaun are all out due to G League assignments connected to two-way or developmental contracts.
PJ Hall is the only Hornets player ruled out due to injury, with the forward dealing with right ankle soreness.
The Hornets’ active rotation remains centered around LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges.
Ball leads the team with 7.1 assists per game while averaging 19.6 points. His playmaking drives Charlotte’s pace and perimeter shot creation.
Miller leads the roster in scoring at 20.4 points per game and shoots 39.0% from three-point range. Bridges adds another 17.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest.
The Hornets enter Thursday’s game after a 117-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 31. Phoenix lost its most recent game 115-111 to the Orlando Magic after defeating Memphis 131-105 one day earlier.
The teams met once earlier this season on March 8, when the Suns defeated the Hornets 111-99.
