Denver Nuggets vs. Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Preview, and Odds
Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas - Super Bowl
It’s an interconference clash on the hardwood as teams on opposite ends of their respective conference’s playoff pictures take the floor in Buzz City. The Denver Nuggets are on the road as they make the trip to take on the Charlotte Hornets Saturday night. Denver was beaten 115-104 by Orlando on the road Thursday night in their most recent game, losing outright as a five-point favorite. Charlotte logs the second game of a back-to-back set here as they were on the road to face Boston in Beantown Friday night. The Hornets took on Washington on the road Wednesday night, falling 118-104 and failing to cover as a 3.5-point underdog in a Southeast Division tilt. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Nuggets own a 35-30 advantage and have won the last two meetings. That includes a 119-115 home win in the first matchup this season on December 18, 2022.
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Denver Nuggets Looking to Maintain Top Spot in West
Denver had won four of their previous five games before getting surprised by Orlando on the road Thursday night. The Nuggets fell to 38-18 on the season and entered Friday with a nine-game lead over Minnesota in the Northwest Division. In the West, the team held the top seed by four games over Memphis and was nine games ahead of the Pelicans to remain in a guaranteed playoff spot. Against Orlando, Denver bolted to a 12-0 lead three minutes into the game but saw things unravel from there. The Nuggets trailed by three after the opening quarter and by 10 at the half. Denver was unable to get closer than three in the second half as the Magic held them at bay. The Nuggets shot 46.4% from the field, including 10 of 33 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 16 times in the loss. Aaron Gordon led the way for Denver with 37 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. Denver traded Bones Hyland to the Clippers Thursday afternoon in exchange for 2-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 NBA drafts. They sent three second-round picks to the Lakers to acquire center Thomas Bryant, adding some depth behind Nikola Jokic at the center position.
On the year, Denver is 7 in the league in scoring offense with an average of 117.1 points per game this season. The Nuggets are 20 in rebounding by collecting 42.6 boards per contest while they are 2 by dishing out an average of 28.8 assists a night. Denver stands 13in scoring defense as they give up an average of 113 points a night. Nikola Jokic is leading the team in scoring with 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.1 assists a night this season. Jamal Murray (20.2 points, 5.8 assists), Aaron Gordon (17.3 points, 6.9 rebounds), Michael Porter Jr. (16.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Thomas Bryant (12.1 points) each are solid scoring options. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (11.3 points), Bruce Brown (11.1 points), Jeff Green, DeAndre Jordan and Christian Braun are among the other players that coach Michael Malone calls on in the rotation. The Nuggets are 1 in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 51% from the floor. Denver is 14 as they connect on 12.2 three-pointers a night while the team is 1 as they knock down 39.5% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Collin Gillespie (leg) remains out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a broken leg. Murray (knee) missed three straight games while Zeke Nnaji (shoulder) missed the last two games. Both are considered day-to-day so watch for updates.
Charlotte Hornets Trying to Survive Back-to-Back Against League Powerhouses
Charlotte was in action on the road against Boston Friday night so they get the unfortunate scheduling quirk of facing the top team in each conference on back-to-back nights. The Hornets entered Friday just 15-41 on the season and sat in the basement of the Southeast Division, 15.5 games behind the Heat for the top spot. They were 14 in the Eastern Conference standings, 24.5 games behind Boston for the top spot, 15.5 games behind Miami for the final guaranteed spot and 11 games back of Toronto for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Charlotte is 7-17 as the home team this season though they have a -6.1-ppg scoring differential (110.4 ppg for, 116.5 ppg against) in those games. The Hornets are 2-6 in the second game of back-to-back situations with a -5.9-ppg scoring margin (107.9 ppg for, 113.5 ppg against) in those outings. Charlotte is 7-13 against Western Conference teams with a -6.1-ppg differential (112.6 ppg for, 118.7 ppg against) in those games. On Thursday, the Hornets shipped Mason Plumlee to the Clippers for Reggie Jackson and acquired Svi Mykhailiuk along with second-round picks as part of a three-team trade with the Trail Blazers and 76ers that sent Jalen McDaniels to Philadelphia.
On the season, the Hornets are 24 in the league in scoring offense with 111.9 points per game. Charlotte is 7 in the league in rebounding as they collect 45 boards per contest and 16 in assists with 25 dimes per contest. The Hornets are 28 in scoring defense as they allow an average of 118.6 points per game. Terry Rozier is second on the Hornets with 21.8 points plus 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season. Gordon Hayward (13.3 points, 4.3 boards, 3.5 assists), Kelly Oubre Jr. (20.2 points, 5.1 boards), P.J. Washington (14.7 points) and Dennis Smith Jr. (eight points, 4.5 assists) are solid contributors on the offensive end of the floor. Reggie Jackson (10.9 points, 3.5 assists), Nick Richards (8.1 points, 5.6 rebounds), LaMelo Ball (23.3 points, 8.1 assists), Theo Maledon, Cody Martin, James Bouknight and Bryce McGowens are looked at to provide rotational depth for the Hornets. Charlotte is 30 in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 45.2% from the field as a team. The Hornets are 26 in threes per game with 10.7 per contest and 30 in three-point field goal percentage by shooting 32.1% from beyond the arc.
Martin has played just seven games this season: he underwent knee surgery in November and last played on January 14: he remains out at this point in time. Oubre Jr. (thumb) last played on December 29 against the Thunder and had surgery. He is expected to be out until some point in February.
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The Hornets have had all kinds of problems when it comes to putting games in the win column this season. This one doesn’t project to be any easier for the hosts. While the Hornets are at home here, the fact remains that they are playing the second game of a back-to-back situation heading into this one and have to travel after facing Boston on the road Friday night. Meanwhile, Denver had Friday off and had the short trip up from Orlando after Thursday’s game. We know how explosive the Nuggets can be when they are close to full strength: just ask the Timberwolves about that after the Nuggets hung 146 on them Tuesday night. Denver is the better team and it’s not even close: with the Hornets tired with their third game in four nights, the Nuggets pull away for the win.
Prediction: Denver Nuggets to cover
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Denver has seen the under post a 28-27-1 record on the year. The Nuggets are below average in the league when it comes to tempo as they enter this game 19th in the league in tempo with 98.7 possessions a night. Denver is 23rd in the league in turnovers by committing 15 turnovers per contest. Charlotte has seen the over go 27-28-1 entering this contest in their 56 games of the season entering Friday. The Hornets stand 8th in the league in turnovers as they commit 13.7 per contest on the season and have stayed under the number in six of their last seven games entering this one. Charlotte is above the league average when it comes to pace as they are 8th in tempo with 100.8 possessions a night this season. Denver is an explosive offensive team and the Hornets are leaky defensively. Throw in the fatigue factor and this portends to be a huge spot for the Nuggets to put up a hefty number. This game edges over the total.
Prediction: Over
Chris King has been immersed in the world of professional and collegiate sports for more than three decades. Whether it's playing pickup games or being involved in organized sports to being a fan, he's checked all the boxes. From the NFL to arena football, the NHL to the KHL, the NBA to the WNBA to college hoops, and even MLB to the KBO. If it's out there, he's covered it and bet on it as well, as Chris has been an expert bettor in his career. Before joining Winners and Whiners back in 2015, his work appeared around the internet and in print. He's written books for Ruckus Books about college basketball, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, golf, and the World Cup. If you're looking for the inside track on hitting a winner, do yourself a favor and read what Chris has to say.
