Posted at 4:15 PM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle  +10½ -105  BET365  +10½ -110 SportsInteraction +10½ -110  888Sport +10½ -110

Charlotte +10 over Phoenix

7:10 PM EST. Kevin Durant makes his debut for the Suns tonight in Charlotte. From a standings perspective, there might not be a better place for KD to get his legs back than against the lowly Hornets. However, the point-spread is the great equalizer, and with Durant in the lineup, expectations are high that the Suns are going to dominate this game.

Spotting significant points like this one on the road is a lot to ask of a team that has not been a double-digit favorite in over two months. Asking the Suns to do so now, while trying to integrate their new superstar with franchise player Devin Booker, is a challenge. While all things are not equal, we do have a similar situation going on in Dallas where KD’s former teammate in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving, is trying to fit in and find his role alongside fellow alpha dog and face of the franchise, Luka Doncic.

This quote from Irving after the Mavs' last game really stuck with us, so we’ll use it here, "The last two games, I just haven't played with the fluidity of my game and just complimenting others and just doing the little things to get us wins. I mean, it's natural. It comes with it. And also, as a human being, I just naturally want to fit in with everybody and not step on anyone's toes.” He might be a knucklehead, but Irving is right here. It’s easy to forget that there is more to these blockbuster trades than just the X’s and O’s on the court. It’s big egos and personalities in the locker room too.

The Hornets were on a nice run, and we acknowledge we faded Charlotte last time out, but this is no “zig-zag.” There are exceptions to every rule, and this game has many layers, one of which goes back to Monday night in Detroit, where Hornets guard LeMelo Ball broke his ankle. He is obviously out for the rest of the season. Head coach Steve Clifford put it best, "They're not going to wait for us. They're going to keep score Wednesday night too, so we've got to be thinking about the things that matter." Coach is right, life goes on, and the Hornets still have business to attend to.

With Durant stepping in and Ball out, the “injury chasers” and “star chasers” are united here in the Queen City. Because of that, we have been presented with the opportunity to take back inflated points with a Hornets team that has been playing some pretty good ball. Remember, this is a “sixth-man” league, and a young team like Charlotte has shooters on the bench chomping at the bit to get a look. The Hornets are playing with house money at home, and they get to take a swing at the odds on favorites to go all the way. Everyone loves a “Rocky” story. We didn’t hear no bell. Let’s rumble.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------