On January 8, 2025, Beijing time, the 7-win and 27-loss Hornets faced off against the 16-win and 18-loss Suns at home. This was a great opportunity for the Suns, who have been struggling, to secure a victory. However, the Suns were playing back-to-back games (having made a comeback win against the 76ers the previous day), and their energy levels were not as high as the Hornets'. Could the Suns still manage to win this game? The Suns had Beal and Nukic coming off the bench, with their starting lineup consisting of Jones, Booker, Dunn, Durant, and Plumlee. The Hornets started with Ball, Miller, Bridges, Green, and Mawei.
In the first quarter, Booker and Durant opened the scoring with a 4-0 lead, to which Miller responded with a three-pointer. Dunn and Booker then scored six points in a row, prompting a timeout from the Hornets as the Suns led 10-3. After the timeout, Bridges made a putback, and Booker and Durant added four more points, extending the Suns' lead to nine points. Mawei and Bridges narrowed the gap to five points, but Booker's layup maintained the Suns' advantage. Martin and Bridges scored five points to bring the difference down to two points. Nukic, Booker, and Allen extended the lead back to ten points. After another timeout, Richards reduced the deficit to six points, but Nukic's three-pointer and Richards' hook shot meant that the Suns led 29-22 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Beal score a layup, giving the Suns a nine-point lead. However, Miller, Salong, and Mawei went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to just two points. Booker and Morris then extended the Suns' lead to seven points. Following a timeout, Bridges, Green, Richards, Ball, and Martin scored consecutively, allowing the Hornets to take a seven-point lead. Despite scoring from Durant and Booker, the Hornets' Ball, Richards, Bridges, and Miller responded strongly, leading by 13 points at halftime, with the score at 59-46 in favor of the Hornets.
In the third quarter, Durant scored five points in a row, followed by Booker making both free throws, reducing the gap to six points. Bridges and Miller then extended the Hornets' lead to eleven points. Durant, Jones, and Booker brought the Suns within three points, but Ball's layup kept the Hornets ahead. Booker and Durant scored four points to bring the Suns within one point, but Mawei and Richards extended the Hornets' lead to six points once again. Booker and Beal scored for the Suns, but Ball's consecutive points kept the Hornets ahead by nine. Allen and Booker hit three-pointers for the Suns, but Ball and Smith responded in kind, maintaining the nine-point lead. Nukic and Durant brought the Suns within five points, but Salong's two free throws and Beal's mid-range shot meant that the Hornets led 88-83 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter began with Richards, Smith, and Misic extending the Hornets' lead to twelve points. Dunn and Beal scored for the Suns, but Bridges, Misic, and Mawei responded, keeping the Hornets ahead by fourteen points. Beal, Booker, and Allen scored for the Suns, but Ball responded with consecutive points, maintaining a fifteen-point lead. Durant scored several points in a row, but Miller and Bridges responded, keeping the lead at eleven points with one minute left in the game. There were no further scores, and the Hornets won 115-104, pulling off an upset.
Ball scored 32 points with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals on 12 out of 28 shooting. Bridges had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Richards contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Miller had 13 points and 3 rebounds, while Mawei had 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Booker scored 39 points with 6 rebounds and 10 assists on 14 out of 25 shooting, achieving his first 30-point, 10-assist game of the season. Durant scored 26 points with 6 rebounds on 8 out of 18 shooting. Beal scored 10 points with 5 assists on 5 out of 13 shooting. Allen had 9 points and 3 rebounds, and Nukic had 8 points and 3 rebounds.
The Suns, ranked 12th in the West, were defeated by the underdog Hornets. The Suns' management has come to realize that even having Beal and Nukic come off the bench does not solve their defensive shortcomings. They must make significant trades if they are to have any hope this season. For Durant, he is currently feeling helpless, unsure of how to lead the Suns out of their difficulties.