Tipping off across tonight’s six-game NBA slate, the Charlotte Hornets will face off against the Denver Nuggets.
This will be the second and final meeting between these two cross-conference opponents this season. The Nuggets produced a 115-106 victory in the first matchup, which took place back on Dec. 7th, although the outlook is much different without Nikola Jokic in the lineup.
Looking at the odds for tonight, the Nuggets are 1.5-point favorites and hold -110 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hornets hold -110 odds of winning in their own right, with the game total set at 228.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Sunday night matchup.
Hornets at Nuggets Preview
For the first time in several years, there is a bit of momentum surrounding the outlook of the Charlotte Hornets. Their collection of young talent is showing some encouraging growth together, and they have become a tough team to play on a night-to-night basis. However, they are still just 15-27 on the season and sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is 4-4 in its last eight games, and this marks the second half of a back-to-back after falling to the Warriors last night. On the season, the Hornets have gone 24-18 against the spread, and the game total has gone under in 24 of their 42 games played.
The Hornets are averaging 116.6 points per game, which ranks 15th in the NBA. They rank ninth in offensive rating, 23rd in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point percentage, fifth in three-point volume and 22nd in pace. Defensively, opponents are scoring 117.1 points per game against them, which is the 18th-best in the league. They rank 25th in defensive rating, 24th in opponent field-goal percentage, 29th in opponent three-point percentage and second in opponent rebounds allowed.
LaMelo Ball still leads the team statistically, posting averages of 20.2 points, 7.6 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. However, there has been a clear effort to rein in his style of play, with Ball even coming off the bench in last night’s game. Former second overall pick Brandon Miller adds 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while this year’s fourth overall pick Kon Knueppel has impressed with 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.4% from beyond the three-point arc. Miles Bridges averages 19.4 points of his own, while Collin Sexton has made a strong impact as well. Moussa Diabate has been upgraded to probable tonight, while Grant Williams, KJ Simpson, Liam McNeeley and Mason Plumlee remain sidelined.
The Denver Nuggets have looked like a legitimate Western Conference threat for most of this season, but the injury to Nikola Jokic has provided a difficult hurdle. They hold a record of 29-13 on the season, which slots them at third place in the West. Denver enters this game on a four-game winning streak and is 7-3 without the three-time MVP thus far. On the season, the Nuggets are 25-17 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in 27 of their 42 games played.
In addition to Jokic, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas remain sidelined. Jamal Murray and Bruce Brown are listed as probable, while Aaron Gordon is questionable with a hamstring injury. Murray is in the midst of a career-best season, posting averages of 26.2 points, 7.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 45.1% on three-point attempts. Peyton Watson is amid a breakout season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists on the year. However, he is averaging 23.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists across the 10 games without Jokic. Aaron Gordon adds 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Spencer Jones have made an impressive impact.
As a team, the Nuggets are averaging 122.5 points per game, which is the best rate in the NBA. They also lead the league in offensive rating, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage. Defensively, it has been a different story. Opponents are scoring 117.2 points per game, which ranks 19th in the league. Denver also ranks 23rd in defensive rating, 17th in opponent field-goal percentage and 10th in opponent three-point percentage. It also ranks 25th in the league in pace.
Hornets at Nuggets Prediction, Best Bet
Both teams are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so there is no rest advantage on either side. But expect Denver to feel the impact of these minutes a bit more, with every player logging a more significant load without Jokic on the floor and its number of injuries in mind. Charlotte quietly has a respectable amount of depth and young legs to help steer it through. The Hornets have won each of their last three matchups against opponents on the second leg of back-to-backs, and they were road underdogs in each.
Denver has played above its head without its star, but a matchup against this type of young, athletic roster is the type that can punish it. Charlotte has some inconsistency issues, but it has done an impressive job bouncing back. It has covered the spread in each of its last seven road games following a loss. On the heels of a 136-116 loss to the Warriors last night, expect the Hornets to put this trait on display.
Putting situations aside, the Hornets have covered seven of their last 10 games and started to find their stride as a team. Lineups with Knueppel, Ball, Miller and Bridges possess a level of size, athleticism and shooting that stretch every opponent and will especially be the case against this Nuggets team. Denver deserves massive credit for playing at the level it has, but there comes a point where not having the guy who had a clear case for being the most valuable player in the sport will matter. Expect the Hornets’ youth and energy to be a factor tonight and for Charlotte to add another win to its resume.
