2025-26 · Regular Season · Final
Charlotte Hornets at Phoenix Suns
Sunday, March 8, 2026 · tip-off 10:00 PM ET
CHA 8–2@PHX 1–1 records going into the game NBA.com recap ↗
Forecast and result
| Team | Projected | Final | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHA Charlotte Hornets | 113 | 99 | −14 |
| PHX Phoenix Suns (home) | 105 | 111 | +6 |
Forecast: Charlotte Hornets to win, 71% win probability, projected margin 8.
Inside the Forecast
How the inputs are builtWhat the model received
| Input | CHA | PHX |
|---|---|---|
| Elo ratingMargin-of-victory Elo; 1500 is average. | 1632 | 1508 |
| Elo gap, home minus road, incl. home court | −53 | |
| Season scoring marginPoints per game, blended with last season early in the year. | +3.6 | +0.9 |
| Games played this season | 64 | 63 |
| Offensive rating, last 10Points scored per 100 possessions. | 122.7 | 107.3 |
| Defensive rating, last 10Points allowed per 100 possessions; lower is better. | 109.3 | 114.1 |
| Combined pace, last 10Possessions per game, both teams. | 95.7 | |
| Rotation points missingPoints per game of rotation players listed Out or Doubtful. | 0.0 | 36.4 |
| Rest days | 2 | 2 |
| Second night of a back-to-back | No | No |
This forecast can't be broken down exactly: the model version that made this forecast is not available. Explanations are shown only when the model that made a forecast can be rebuilt and reproduces it. How explanations are checked
Built from the box scores
How the breakdowns workWhere each input came from. Open a row to see the games and box-score stats behind it. A breakdown is shown only when rebuilding it from the stored stats gives exactly the number the model received.
Elo ratingCHA1632PHX1508
Updated after every game from the final score only: wins, losses and margin. Each season starts by keeping 75% of last season's distance from the 1500 average.
CHA1632
- Ended last season at 1237 → started this one at 1303
- First 54 games: +286.5
- Last 10 games: +42.4
- WATL110–107+2.6
- LHOU101–105−8.1
- LCLE113–118−7.5
- W@WAS129–112+6.3
- W@CHI131–99+13.4
- W@IND133–109+8.3
- WPOR109–93+6.1
- WDAL117–90+4.9
- W@BOS118–89+31.7
- LMIA120–128−15.3
PHX1508
- Ended last season at 1429 → started this one at 1447
- First 53 games: +107.1
- Last 10 games: −45.3
- WDAL120–111+4.0
- LOKC109–136−15.4
- L@SAS94–121−9.5
- WORL113–110+3.6
- LPOR77–92−21.5
- LBOS81–97−10.7
- WLAL113–110+4.2
- W@SAC114–103+6.6
- LCHI103–105−8.9
- WNOP118–116+2.3
Season scoring marginCHA+3.6PHX+0.9
Points scored minus points allowed per game this season, mixed with last season's margin until 20 games are played.
CHA+3.6
Scores 116.2, allows 112.5 over 64 games: +3.6 a game.
PHX+0.9
Scores 112.1, allows 111.2 over 63 games: +0.9 a game.
Offensive rating, last 10CHA122.7PHX107.3
Points scored per 100 possessions. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.4).
CHA122.7scored, +8.3 vs league
| Factor | CHA | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 56.6% | 54.4% | +3.3 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.0% | 12.2% | +0.4 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.1% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.188 | 0.210 | −0.6 | |
| Everything else | +5.3 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 5 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
PHX107.3scored, −7.1 vs league
| Factor | PHX | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 49.7% | 54.4% | −7.1 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 11.2% | 12.2% | +1.5 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.1% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.118 | 0.210 | −2.6 | |
| Everything else | +1.2 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 7 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
Defensive rating, last 10CHA109.3PHX114.1
Points allowed per 100 possessions, built from what opponents did in those games. Bars point right when the defense held opponents below average. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.4).
CHA109.3allowed, −5.1 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 51.7% | 54.4% | +4.1 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.2% | 12.2% | −0.1 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.1% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.224 | 0.210 | −0.4 | |
| Everything else | +1.6 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 5 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
PHX114.1allowed, −0.3 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 53.5% | 54.4% | +1.4 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.0% | 12.2% | −0.3 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.1% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.217 | 0.210 | −0.2 | |
| Everything else | −0.6 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 7 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
Pace, last 10average 95.7
Possessions per 48 minutes. The model uses the average of the two teams. Faster games mean more points for both sides, so pace mostly moves the projected total, not the margin.
CHA 96.3 and PHX 95.1 → average 95.7 (league 2025-26 to date: 100.2)
Rotation points missingCHA0.0PHX36.4
Points per game of rotation players (two or more of the last 10 games this season, 15+ minutes) listed Out or Doubtful on the official injury report.
CHA0.0pts/g missing
Every rotation player was available.
Source: official injury report, 2026-03-08 17:30 ET. 10 rotation players.
PHX36.4pts/g missing
| Player | Pts | Min | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Brooks | 17.0 | 21.0 | 3 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 11.8 | 26.1 | 4 |
| Mark Williams | 7.6 | 20.1 | 8 |
Source: official injury report, 2026-03-08 17:30 ET. 12 rotation players.
RestCHA2 daysPHX2 days
Days since the team's previous game, capped at 5. One day means the second night of a back-to-back.
CHA2days
Last played Mar 6 against MIA.
PHX2days
Last played Mar 6 against NOP.
The last 10 games behind these numbers, box-score totals
CHA
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 | MIA | 120–128 | 41-96 | 19-52 | 19-20 | 12 | – | 120.0 | 129.3 | 99.5 |
| Mar 4 | @BOS | 118–89 | 41-89 | 19-49 | 17-21 | 4 | 11 | 131.1 | 96.7 | 91.0 |
| Mar 3 | DAL | 117–90 | 42-88 | 20-51 | 13-19 | 14 | 13 | 120.6 | 90.9 | 98.0 |
| Feb 28 | POR | 109–93 | 38-91 | 16-42 | 17-25 | 16 | 20 | 112.4 | 96.9 | 96.5 |
| Feb 26 | @IND | 133–109 | 48-86 | 22-46 | 15-19 | 16 | 11 | 135.7 | 110.1 | 98.5 |
| Feb 24 | @CHI | 131–99 | 49-95 | 25-57 | 8-9 | 16 | 14 | 131.0 | 100.0 | 99.5 |
| Feb 22 | @WAS | 129–112 | 43-87 | 25-46 | 18-25 | 12 | – | 135.8 | 119.1 | 94.5 |
| Feb 20 | CLE | 113–118 | 36-92 | 20-56 | 21-22 | 14 | – | 122.8 | 129.7 | 91.5 |
| Feb 19 | HOU | 101–105 | 36-84 | 14-42 | 15-18 | 16 | – | 107.4 | 111.7 | 94.0 |
| Feb 11 | ATL | 110–107 | 33-88 | 19-51 | 25-29 | 15 | – | 110.0 | 108.1 | 99.5 |
PHX
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 | NOP | 118–116 | 40-90 | 20-58 | 18-26 | 12 | – | 122.9 | 122.1 | 95.5 |
| Mar 5 | CHI | 103–105 | 36-92 | 13-46 | 18-27 | 14 | – | 100.0 | 101.9 | 103.0 |
| Mar 3 | @SAC | 114–103 | 42-92 | 19-49 | 11-17 | 19 | 18 | 115.2 | 104.0 | 99.0 |
| Feb 26 | LAL | 113–110 | 40-87 | 22-50 | 11-14 | 12 | 14 | 125.6 | 120.9 | 90.5 |
| Feb 24 | BOS | 81–97 | 29-79 | 12-36 | 11-13 | 8 | 9 | 97.6 | 115.5 | 83.5 |
| Feb 22 | POR | 77–92 | 31-85 | 9-35 | 6-6 | 19 | – | 81.9 | 97.9 | 94.0 |
| Feb 21 | ORL | 113–110 | 40-117 | 16-55 | 17-24 | 8 | – | 101.8 | 102.8 | 90.2 |
| Feb 19 | @SAS | 94–121 | 39-105 | 12-42 | 4-6 | 11 | – | 96.9 | 124.7 | 97.0 |
| Feb 11 | OKC | 109–136 | 43-92 | 15-42 | 8-13 | 10 | – | 114.7 | 143.2 | 95.0 |
| Feb 10 | DAL | 120–111 | 49-102 | 16-50 | 6-9 | 13 | – | 116.5 | 107.8 | 103.0 |
Off and Def are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions in each game; their averages are the 10-game ratings above. OREB is missing (–) where the source data didn't record it.
The result against the forecast
2025-26 surprise gamesSurprise is measured against this model's forecast, not against what other observers expected. Outcome surprise is −ln(winner's pregame probability): 0.69 for a coin flip, 2.3 for a 10% winner.
Team box score
What happened in the game. These numbers are not used by the forecast, and they are not offered as the reason it missed.
| Team stat | CHA | PHX |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 99 | 111 |
| Field goals | 37–88 · 42.0% | 36–79 · 45.6% |
| Three-pointers | 15–45 · 33.3% | 16–41 · 39.0% |
| Free throws | 10–15 · 66.7% | 23–26 · 88.5% |
| Rebounds | 41 | 40 |
| Assists | 24 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 6 |
| Steals | 1 | 5 |
| Blocks | 6 | 5 |
How the model does with these teams over time: Charlotte Hornets · Phoenix Suns
Where the forecast differed from the result
| Measure | Forecast | Actual | Actual − forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home margin (PHX) | −8 | +12 | +20 |
| Total points | 218 | 210 | −8 |
| CHA points | 113 | 99 | −14 |
| PHX points | 105 | 111 | +6 |
Recent form before this game
Previous meetings
| Date | Matchup | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 2024-25 | CHA at PHX | CHA 113 – 120 PHX |
| Jan 7 2024-25 | PHX at CHA | PHX 104 – 115 CHA |
| Mar 15 2023-24 | PHX at CHA | PHX 107 – 96 CHA |
| Dec 29 2023-24 | CHA at PHX | CHA 119 – 133 PHX |
| Mar 1 2022-23 | PHX at CHA | PHX 105 – 91 CHA |