The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly a team to monitor as a potential facilitator in a possible trade that would send Jimmy Butler to the Phoenix Suns.

The Phoenix Suns couldn’t let that happen again. They had already lost to the eight-win Charlotte Hornets on the road last week and were on the verge of falling to them again Sunday at home. Nah. Not this time.

The Charlotte Hornets head to Footprint Center to face the Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup. The Hornets are 8-27, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. The Suns are 16-19, which puts them in 12th place in the Western Conference.

The Suns are starting Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, rookie Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant and Mason Plumlee for a fourth straight game. The Suns are 2-1 with this lineup since Suns coach Mike Budenholzer benched Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic and replaced them in the lineup with Dunn and Plumlee.

The 27-year-old Richards, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, could be the Suns' new starting center.

The Suns traded Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks Wednesday for Richards and a second-round selection. Wearing No. 2, Richards joined the Suns (20-20) Friday in Detroit and was ready to make his debut Saturday against the Pistons (21-20) at Little Caesars Arena.

The Phoenix Suns head to the Spectrum Center to face the Charlotte Hornets in a non-conference matchup. The Suns are 16-18, which puts them in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Hornets are 7-27, which puts them in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

After having 2 games in Los Angeles postponed by wildfires, the Charlotte Hornets (8-27) open what is now a 3-game road trip on Sunday, facing the Phoenix Suns (18-19). Tip-off from Footprint Center is at 9 p.

The Charlotte Hornets (8-27) hit the road on Sunday to finally begin their road trip with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns (18-19). This matchup was originally slated to be the third game in a five-game road trip for the Hornets,

The Charlotte Hornets have traded center Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns for a package that includes guard Josh Okogie and draft picks, the team announced.

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