The Phoenix Suns got defensive in defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 111-99, on Sunday, March 8, to end a three-game homestand before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Suns (37-27) fell behind 22-14 within the first six minutes of the first quarter because they couldn’t find the Hornets on defense. Charlotte knocked down nine of their 11 first shots from the field.
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Suns coach Jordan Ott responded by changing the lineup, starting by inserting defensive-minded Haywood Highsmith, who Phoenix signed as a free agent after the trade deadline. Phoenix adjusted its defensive approach to a more in-your-face look.
As a result, the Suns limited the Hornets (32-33) to 42% shooting for the game in a double-digit victory.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) makes a buzzer-beater over Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) makes a buzzer-beater over Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) reacts after making a buzzer beater against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) puts up a layup against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
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Phoenix Suns conclude 3-game homestand vs. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
“That’s just who we have to be,” Ott said. “That’s how we’ve found success in the games we found success. We got to start on the defensive end, our physicality, take it to the legal limit, and then just have overall intent every possession. I did think we got them later into the clock, something we’ve talked about trying to get them later in the clock, and then you just run out of options.”
Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie combined for 78 points in leading the Suns, who begin a six-game road trip March 10 against the Milwaukee Bucks (27-36).
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Here are additional takeaways from the game.
Sun rookie ‘super impressive’
Booker posted a double-double of 30 points and 10 assists while Green and Gillespie each went for 24 points. Booker made a season-high 15 free throws on 15 attempts while Charlotte, as a team, finished 10-of-15 from the line.
“I feel like I was fouled on a few more today, honestly, but I’m not going to complain about shooting 15 of them,” Booker said.
Rookie Rasheer Fleming delivered a career-high 16 points off the bench, going 4-of-6 from 3, both career highs.
“It was super impressive,” Booker said. “Just the willingness to wait for his moment and seize it. He’s still all ears and he still wants to learn more. He’s got a big effect on winning basketball games.”
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Playing a career-high 23 minutes, Fleming has done more than just make up for the Suns being short-handed. He’s defending at a high level and is on fire from deep. In his last five games, Fleming has made a crazy 11-of-18 3s.
“It is a great feeling just because I am getting my reps,” Fleming said. “I just know the work I put in outside of the game, so it is good to see that come about.”
The Suns won without Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), Grayson Allen (right knee injury management), Jordan Goodwin (left calf strain) and Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction). Allen was listed as probable after morning shootaround but was a late scratch.
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“Just the way he woke up,” Ott said. “Then tried to test it out. He made it through shootaround. Coming back tonight, just wasn’t able to quite get it going.”
Suns surpass last season’s win total
The Suns severely underachieved last season with a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Booker coached by Mike Budenholzer. Failing to even make the play-in tournament, Phoenix finished 36-46.
The Suns made major changes. Traded Durant. Bought out Beal. Fired Budenholzer.
The team hired Ott and elevated Brian Gregory to general manager. They acquired Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks from Houston in the Durant trade.
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Then, the Suns built the team around Booker with an identity of playing hard, physical and aggressive with an emphasis placed on defending, sharing the ball and winning the possession game.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 8, 2026.
As a result, the Suns have already won more games this season with 18 games left.
“It starts from Day 1, before Day 1,” Booker said. “A lot of changes since then. We just came in with fresh, new energy. Came in and we worked. We worked together. Kept the main thing the main thing. We have a good group of guys. Everybody is on the same page. So win, lose or draw, it’s fun to be a part of.”
The Suns are seventh in the West, but only two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for sixth and trail the Minnesota Timberwolves by just three games for third.
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The top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, while 7-10 compete in the play-in for the seventh and eighth seeds.
Goodwin could return this week, Allen’s status
Goodwin continues to make progress from a left calf strain suffered Feb. 21 against the Orlando Magic, as he could return as early as against Milwaukee.
Jordan Ott said Goodwin played 5-on-5 before the Hornets game.
“Took a big step,” Ott said. “We’ll see how he responds.”
Goodwin missed his seventh consecutive game with the injury.
“He seems to be heading in a good direction,” Ott said. “He’s playing. He’s on the court. Moving around. Everything points to him getting back out there. Just one of those soft tissue injuries we got to still assess. He goes, got to assess, see where it’s at early in this road trip.”
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Goodwin is averaging 8.9 points in 54 games in his second season with the Suns. He’s become the team’s best on-ball defender and is a force on the offensive glass as a guard.
Standing just 6-foot-3, Goodwin is second on the team in offensive rebounding at 1.9. Only the 7-footer Williams is averaging more at 3.1.
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) dribbles against New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on March 6, 2026.
While Goodwin is close to returning, Allen has been playing through a right knee injury that sidelined him against the Hornets.
Averaging a career-high 17.5 points, Allen suffered a right knee sprain Feb. 5 against Golden State. He missed the next three games going into the NBA All-Star break.
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Allen then sprained his right ankle in a morning shootaround before Phoenix’s first game after the All-Star break on Feb. 19 against the San Antonio Spurs in Austin. He didn’t play in that game, but Allen returned to action Feb. 21 against Orlando in the first of a home back-to-back.
Allen sat out the next game on Feb. 22 versus Portland, but he played the following five games before sitting out against the Hornets.
He posted 12 points, eight assists and four steals in the win over the Pelicans, but was laboring in the second half. So it’s not too surprising he didn’t play against Charlotte.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns surpass win total from last season, top Hornets