Hornets Hope To Play Spoiler
The Charlotte Hornets are having a rather forgettable NBA season but could pick up a memorable win if they were to beat the Denver Nuggets, who have been vulnerable on the road with a 12-14 record.
It is likely those who bet on NBA games will still lean toward the Nuggets, despite the fact they only beat the Hornets by four in Denver.
While no major moves were made at the trade deadline, the Nuggets have been the best team in the Western Conference and seek to secure the best record in the NBA.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Nuggets vs Hornets. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
How Injuries Could Impact Nuggets Against the Spread
Perhaps the only way the Denver Nuggets lose this game is by resting key players. Star guard Jamal Murray (knee) and starting forward Aaron Gordon (ribs) are each questionable.
While the Nuggets have been vulnerable defensively, they are one of the top offenses in the league. They are seventh in scoring 117.1 points per game and have the most efficient unit. Denver is first in making 51.0% of field goal attempts and 39.5% of 3-point shots while ranking 26th in making 74.8% of free throw attempts. They are 20th in rebounding at 42.6 per game.
The Nuggets are 13th defensively in holding teams to 113.0 points per game. They allow teams to convert 48.1% of field goal attempts, which ranks 23rd, and shoot 35.1% on 3-pointers, which ranks eighth. They are second in limiting opponents to 40.3 rebounds per game.
The Nuggets are 30-26-0 against the spread and 27-28-1 on over/unders. Shockingly, they are 1-8 on the road against opponents with a losing win percentage.
Do Hornets Have Enough To Topple Denver?
The Charlotte Hornets battled back from an 18-point deficit against the league-leading Boston Celtics on Friday. Do they have enough in the tank for the Denver Nuggets on the second game of a back-to-back to avoid losing their seventh straight?
Charlotte has the worst offensive efficiency in the league. While it ranks 25th in scoring 111.9 points per game, the Hornets are last in making 45.2% of field goal attempts and 32.1% of 3-point shots. They are 25th in making 74.9% of free throws and sixth in grabbing 45.0 rebounds per game.
Defensively, they allow 118.7 points per game, which ranks 28th. They are 25th in allowing opponents to make 48.1% of field goal attempts and 27th in allowing 37.0% on 3-pointers. They are second last in allowing opponents to grab 46.5 rebounds per game.
The Hornets are 23-30-3 against the spread and 27-28-1 on over/unders. They are 7-17 straight up at home.
Nuggets vs Hornets Game Injuries
Nuggets vs Hornets Head-to-Head
The scores and odds show that the Nuggets have won seven of the last eight between these teams and are 4-4 against the spread in that period.
Further, the under has hit in three straight games after the over-hit in six of the previous seven games. Despite a down season, the Hornets are 5-1 against the spread in their last six meetings at home. The Nuggets won 119-115 on Dec. 18, 2022, and seek a sweep.
Nuggets vs Hornets Game Information
- Game: Nuggets (38-18) vs Hornets (15-42)
- Location: Spectrum Center
- Day/Time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
- Hornets vs Nuggets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Hornets vs Nuggets Betting Lines
Nuggets vs Hornets Picks & Prediction
The numbers can’t always dictate every scenario, and that is why the Denver Nuggets should win this game, despite raw data in the NBA betting preview that suggests otherwise. But, again, the key is to whether Murray and Gordon play because they are such a large part of what the Nuggets do on either end.
LaMelo Ball is a blossoming star for the Charlotte Hornets, and he needs to continue to play like one. It is one thing to have a poor offense, but to have a poor defense is frustrating because this team should be better. That is what makes betting sports preseason win totals so frustrating.
The Denver Nuggets are listed at -335 in our Vegas Lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Nuggets, you have a chance to win $30. The Charlotte Hornets are +272, offering a chance to win $272.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines give the Nuggets a 77.01% chance to win, with the other Hornets at 26.88%.
Nuggets vs Hornets Trends
Nuggets vs Hornets Edge
Nuggets vs Hornets Results
Nuggets vs Hornets Previous Game (Jan. 02, 2023)
The Charlotte Hornets lost their seventh straight game on Friday when they fell to the Atlanta Hawks. It marked yet another lackluster defensive effort with head coach Steve Clifford ripping into the team’s lack of effort on the defensive end.
We’ll see if that served as motivation as they next get a talented Denver Nuggets squad that was crushed by the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. It was a game in which they were favored in the sportsbook but couldn’t take advantage.
Nuggets vs Hornets Game Summary
