The Denver Nuggets are a vastly different team on the road – i.e. not as good – as they make their only visit of the season Thursday night to Charlotte to take on owner Michael Jordan’s Hornets. Denver is favored on the Mybookie Basketball odds. Let’s see how the NBA odds will be for the Nuggets vs Hornets.
Nuggets vs Hornets 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Thursday, 7 PM ET
- Where: Spectrum Center
- TV: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Denver Nuggets -9 / Total 207.5
Nikola showing he’s QB1 material with Peyton Manning and Drew Lock sitting courtside! pic.twitter.com/ftEq2G2sjL
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 2, 2020
Nuggets vs Hornets First Meeting
Denver won 100-86 at home on Jan. 20. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets in scoring with 19 points off the bench and Nikola Jokic tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win. All five starters scored in double figures for the Hornets with Terry Rozier leading the way with 20 points and nine assists. Charlotte has won the past three at home in this series and is 19-10 all-time at home vs. Denver.
Why Bet on Denver?
The Nuggets (41-20) are battling for the No. 2 seed in the West but can’t afford bad losses like on Tuesday when they were upset as huge home favorites vs. Golden State, 116-100. A 16-point underdog, the Warriors were down 77-65 with 5:08 left in the third quarter. They went on a 43-15 run to take control and win for just the second time in 11 games.
Denver coach Michael Malone had warned his team not to overlook the Warriors, but it was another head-scratching home loss for the Nuggets, who’ve also dropped games to Atlanta and Cleveland. Even more alarming, Denver is 3-3 since the All-Star break.
Nikola Jokic hit 7-of-15 shots for 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Jokic was great but the Nuggets couldn’t get anything going in the second half when they were outscored 67-42. Paul Millsap returned to action from a right ankle sprain on Tuesday night and hit 6-of-9 shots for 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Denver has been good on the road this year. Their 17 wins this season mark the most through 28 road games in NBA franchise history and with 12 games remaining they are just five wins off the franchise record of 22 road victories done in 2006-07.
The Nuggets currently average 44.6 rebounds per game and when Denver pulls down more rebounds than their opponent, they tend to have a good result, going 28-5 overall. When Denver has 25 or more assists in a game, they are 31-8 this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 110.72
- Field Goal %: 46.98
- Three Point %: 35.67
- Free Throw %: 77.54
- Total Rebounds: 44.56
Defense
- Total Score: 107.54
- Field Goal %: 45.83
- Three Point %: 34.51
- Free Throw %: 75.74
- Total Rebounds: 42.8
Why Bet on Charlotte?
Charlotte Hornets (21-40) lost its second in a row Tuesday, 104-103 at home vs. the Spurs. The Hornets jumped to a 12-2 lead to open the game, prompting Spurs interim coach Tim Duncan to use his first timeout. Charlotte extended its lead to as many 17 in the first half, but the Spurs battled back to take a 77-76 lead entering the fourth quarter. San Antonio extended the lead to six with 4:24 left in the game after three free throws by Bryn Forbes. The Hornets had a chance to win the game on their final possession. However, after Terry Rozier drove to the basket, his pass under the basket went in and out of the hands of Cody Martin.
Cody Zeller was back in the starting lineup on Tuesday vs. the Spurs, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes. He had sat via coach’s decision the previous three games. Bismack Biyombo picked up a DNP-CD on Tuesday. The Hornets have a revolving door at center right now.
Rozier moved to point guard vs. the Spurs and had 20 points with six rebounds, five assists one turnover in 36 minutes. Devonte’ Graham (ankle) was out tonight and is day-to-day going forward. Martin made his second career start on Tuesday for Graham and matched his career-best of 13 points (6-of-8 FGs), adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 34 minutes.
Twin brother Caleb Martin scored a career-high 12 points with three rebounds in 26 minutes. Coach James Borrego said that Caleb would get “significant” minutes going forward with Malik Monk suspended indefinitely.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 101.97
- Field Goal %: 43.07
- Three Point %: 34.56
- Free Throw %: 74.24
- Total Rebounds: 43.18
Defense
- Total Score: 109.38
- Field Goal %: 47.4
- Three Point %: 35.06
- Free Throw %: 75.98
- Total Rebounds: 46.18
Nuggets vs Hornets Game Trends
- Denver are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 9 of Denver’s last 13 games.
- Denver are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Charlotte.
- Charlotte are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Charlotte’s last 9 games.
Nuggets vs Hornets Expert Prediction
Nuggets 107, Hornets 98
