The Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets lock horns for the first time this season, so here’s the best betting pick for their interconference showdown at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday night.
The Nuggets are undefeated in their last three meetings with the Hornets. Denver opens as a 6.5-point fave on DraftKings Sportsbook. Charlotte is listed as a +240 moneyline dog. The hosts are still without Gary Harris (groin), while Monte Morris (quadriceps) is questionable to play. On the other side, the Hornets are coming in full strength.
Charlotte opens a five-game road trip
The Charlotte Hornets (20-18; 21-16-1 ATS) are rolling on a four-game winning streak following a 122-116 home victory over the Sacramento Kings last Monday. Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward led the way for the Hornets, combining for 51 points and eight assists, while Charlotte went 12-for-30 from downtown (40.0%).
Furthermore, the Hornets dished out 30 assists while turning the ball over only nine times. It was another solid offensive performance by the Hornets who sit at the sixth spot of the Eastern Conference standings.
Charlotte is tallying 112.4 points per 100 possessions (15th in the NBA) on 46.4% shooting from the field (16th) and 38.6% from beyond the arc (6th). The Hornets are handing out 27.1 assists per 100 possessions (2nd) while committing 15.4 turnovers (27th). They are yielding 112.3 points in a return (17th) on 47.1% shooting from the field (21st) and 37.2% from downtown (18th).
Denver beat Indiana thanks to some excellent D down the stretch
After a disappointing 116-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets (23-16; 18-21 ATS) returned to the winning track with a 121-106 thrashing off the Indiana Pacers this past Monday. It was their sixth win in the last seven games overall, and the Nuggets are the No. 5 seed in the West at the moment.
Denver dominated the Pacers in the final period (34-15). The Nuggets shot the ball well all night and made 46.4% of their field goals and 53.6% of their triples. Nikola Jokic went off for 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton scored 20 points each.
The Nuggets played some really good defense down the stretch on Monday night. They surrender 112.4 points per 100 possessions this season (17th) while holding their opponents to 46.8% shooting from the field (16th) and 36.0% from beyond the 3-point line (8th). The Nuggets score 117.3 points in a return (5th) on 48.4% shooting from the field (also 5th) and 38.9% from deep (also 5th).
Trends:
Charlotte:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five road games against Denver
- 1-4 ATS in the last five contests when listed as dogs of 6.5 or more points
Denver:
- 5-2 ATS in the last seven games overall
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games against the Eastern Conference
I’m expecting Nikola Jokic to dominate this game. The Hornets have just allowed a whopping 68 points in the paint to the Kings, so Jokic and his teammate should torture Charlotte’s interior defense.
The Nuggets have improved defensively over the last few weeks and need to stay on the same path, as the Hornets’ defense will have a tall task to slow their offense down. Charlotte is playing well this term, but the Hornets still struggle defensively and has surrendered 121 or more points in five of their last six showings on the road.
Pick: Take Denver Nuggets -6.5 at -110
The Total:
Interestingly, the over has hit in the Hornets’ last 11 outings as underdogs of 6.5 or more points. Also, their previous nine road tilts went in the over, as well as nine of the Hornets’ last 13 games overall. On the other side, the under is 4-1 in Denver’s last five outings.
I’m going against the majority of those betting trends, expecting the Nuggets to slow down things and put on another solid defensive performance. Denver records only 97.0 possessions per 48 minutes (29th in the NBA), while Charlotte averages 100.1 (11th).
Pick: Go under 230.5 points at -110
The Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets lock horns for the first time this season, so here’s the best betting pick for their interconference showdown at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday night.
The Nuggets are undefeated in their last three meetings with the Hornets. Denver opens as a 6.5-point fave on DraftKings Sportsbook. Charlotte is listed as a +240 moneyline dog. The hosts are still without Gary Harris (groin), while Monte Morris (quadriceps) is questionable to play. On the other side, the Hornets are coming in full strength.
Charlotte opens a five-game road trip
The Charlotte Hornets (20-18; 21-16-1 ATS) are rolling on a four-game winning streak following a 122-116 home victory over the Sacramento Kings last Monday. Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward led the way for the Hornets, combining for 51 points and eight assists, while Charlotte went 12-for-30 from downtown (40.0%).
Furthermore, the Hornets dished out 30 assists while turning the ball over only nine times. It was another solid offensive performance by the Hornets who sit at the sixth spot of the Eastern Conference standings.
Charlotte is tallying 112.4 points per 100 possessions (15th in the NBA) on 46.4% shooting from the field (16th) and 38.6% from beyond the arc (6th). The Hornets are handing out 27.1 assists per 100 possessions (2nd) while committing 15.4 turnovers (27th). They are yielding 112.3 points in a return (17th) on 47.1% shooting from the field (21st) and 37.2% from downtown (18th).
Denver looks to get back on the winning path
After a disappointing 116-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets (23-16; 18-21 ATS) returned to the winning track with a 121-106 thrashing off the Indiana Pacers this past Monday. It was their sixth win in the last seven games overall, and the Nuggets are the No. 5 seed in the West at the moment.
Denver dominated the Pacers in the final period (34-15). The Nuggets shot the ball well all night and made 46.4% of their field goals and 53.6% of their triples. Nikola Jokic went off for 32 points and 14 rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton scored 20 points each.
The Nuggets played some really good defense down the stretch on Monday night. They surrender 112.4 points per 100 possessions this season (17th) while holding their opponents to 46.8% shooting from the field (16th) and 36.0% from beyond the 3-point line (8th). The Nuggets score 117.3 points in a return (5th) on 48.4% shooting from the field (also 5th) and 38.9% from deep (also 5th).
Trends:
Charlotte:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five road games against Denver
- 1-4 ATS in the last five contests when listed as dogs of 6.5 or more points
Denver:
- 5-2 ATS in the last seven games overall
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games against the Eastern Conference
The Winner Prediction
I’m expecting Nikola Jokic to dominate this game. The Hornets have just allowed a whopping 68 points in the paint to the Kings, so Jokic and his teammate should torture Charlotte’s interior defense.
The Nuggets have improved defensively over the last few weeks and need to stay on the same path, as the Hornets’ defense will have a tall task to slow their offense down. Charlotte is playing well this term, but the Hornets still struggle defensively and has surrendered 121 or more points in five of their last six showings on the road.
Pick: Take Denver Nuggets -6.5 at -110
The Total:
Interestingly, the over has hit in the Hornets’ last 11 outings as underdogs of 6.5 or more points. Also, their previous nine road tilts went in the over, as well as nine of the Hornets’ last 13 games overall. On the other side, the under is 4-1 in Denver’s last five outings.
I’m going against the majority of those betting trends, expecting the Nuggets to slow down things and put on another solid defensive performance. Denver records only 97.0 possessions per 48 minutes (29th in the NBA), while Charlotte averages 100.1 (11th).
Pick: Go under 230.5 points at -110