Undefeated Clubs meet as Suns Host Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS, 1-0 O/U) and Phoenix Suns (1-0 SU) each got their 2008-09 seasons off to a positive start with opening night wins in the BetUS Sportsbook.

Tonight, sports betting enthusiasts and hoops fans will watch as the clubs meet in Phoenix as the Suns look to hand the Hornets a defeat for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Although many of the players on the roster are the same ones who made the Suns a perennial title contender under former head coach Mike D’Antoni, Phoenix has a ‘new’ look this season after parting ways with their former head coach, acquiring aging center Shaquille O’Neal and hiring former NBA point guard Terry Porter to give the team a more defensive mindset.

Gone, are the days of fast-paced basketball an high-scoring contests and in its place is a more traditional brand of basketball featuring more half-court offense and a greater emphasis on defense.

Phoenix opened the new season with a solid 103-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs, the team’s postseason nemesis that eliminated Phoenix from the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.

Two-time MVP Steve Nash scored 13 points and handed out 13 assists and power forward Amare Stoudemire scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to help Porter, a former assistant with Detroit, win in his debut with Phoenix.

"Obviously, the first one is nice, especially on the road," said Porter. "Our guys really gutted it out tonight. It was great to see that down the stretch."

Now, the Suns get to host a team they failed to beat in four tries last season.

New Orleans opened with a 108-103 road win over Golden State on Wednesday as all-stars David West and Chris Paul scored 24 points and 21 points respectively. Veteran swingman and one of basketball’s best locker room leaders, James Posey added 11 points off the bench in his Hornets debut.

Paul averaged 29.0 points and 11.0 assists against the Suns last season while the Hornets beat Phoenix at their own up-tempo game, averaging a whopping 117.8 points per game.

"We match up with them pretty well," West said following the teams’ final meeting last season. "C.P. and our guards have an advantage over their guards with their speed and ability to get up and down the floor. ... It just happens that Phoenix is one of those teams that we feel confident against."

The Suns haven't begun a season 2-0 since 2004-05, when they won their first four games en route to a 62-20 season.

Here is a look at the key betting trends for each team, followed by mu in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks:

The Hornets are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

The Hornets are 26-7-2 ATS in their last 35 games playing on 0 days rest.

The Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

The Suns are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home games.

The Under is 5-1 in Hornets last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.