Suns Beat Hornets 101-96 Behind Devin Booker’s 30 Points

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Charlotte Hornets 101-96 on Thursday, November 12, 2026, behind Devin Booker’s game-high 30 points, seven assists and three steals. Phoenix overcame a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, outscoring Charlotte 29-20 in the final period to secure the home victory at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Suns Establish an Early Lead

Phoenix opened with a 28-22 first quarter, building a six-point advantage. It was the Suns’ second-highest-scoring period of the night and gave them an early cushion in a game that would change direction after halftime.

Second Quarter: Hornets Narrow the Gap

Charlotte edged Phoenix 28-27 in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 55-50 at halftime. The Hornets produced their highest-scoring quarter of the game, but the Suns retained the lead heading into the break.

Third Quarter: Charlotte Moves Ahead

The Hornets outscored the Suns 26-17 in the third, turning a five-point halftime deficit into a 76-72 advantage. Phoenix’s 17 points marked its lowest output in any quarter, leaving the home team needing a fourth-quarter response.

Fourth Quarter: Phoenix Finishes Stronger

The Suns delivered their best scoring quarter when they needed it most, finishing with a 29-20 advantage over the final 12 minutes. That nine-point difference reversed Charlotte’s lead and gave Phoenix a five-point win in regulation.

Key Performers

• Devin Booker, Suns: Led all scorers with 30 points and added seven assists and three steals, supplying Phoenix’s leading contributions in both scoring and assists.
• Miles Bridges, Suns: Led Phoenix with six rebounds as the Suns worked around a substantial team rebounding deficit.
• Coby White, Hornets: Paced Charlotte with 21 points, finishing as the visitors’ leading scorer.
• Moussa Diabate, Hornets: Collected a game-high 13 rebounds, helping Charlotte establish a 51-31 advantage on the boards.
• Grayson Allen, Hornets: Led Charlotte with six assists. The Hornets finished with 24 assists to Phoenix’s 23.

NerdSports Stat: Phoenix outscored Charlotte 50-38 on two-point baskets. That 12-point advantage offset the Hornets’ combined seven-point edge from 3-pointers and free throws, producing the exact five-point final margin.

Game Analysis: Shot Volume and a Fourth-Quarter Response

Phoenix won despite trailing in rebounding and shooting a slightly lower percentage from the field. The Suns made 38 of 92 attempts for 41.3%, while Charlotte finished 33 of 79 for 41.8%. Phoenix’s 13 additional attempts helped produce five more made field goals.

Charlotte held the advantage from beyond the arc, making 14 of 39 attempts for 35.9%, compared with Phoenix’s 13 of 43 for 30.2%. The Hornets also made 16 of 20 free throws, while the Suns went 12 of 15. Both teams shot 80% at the line.

The Suns found their scoring advantage inside the 3-point line, making 25 two-point baskets to Charlotte’s 19. Combined with Booker’s scoring and playmaking, that difference allowed Phoenix to overcome Charlotte’s better outside shooting and 20-rebound advantage.

The quarter-by-quarter pattern was equally important. Charlotte outscored Phoenix 54-44 across the middle two periods, but the Suns held a combined 57-42 advantage in the first and fourth quarters. Their final-period response ultimately separated the teams.

Closing Context: Suns Improve to 5-6

Phoenix improved to 5-6 overall and 5-3 at home, while Charlotte fell to 4-8 overall and 1-4 on the road. The Suns next host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, November 15, at 1:00 p.m. PST. The Hornets return home to face the LA Clippers that day at 1:30 p.m. PST, looking to turn their rebounding strength into a better result.

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