Charlotte HornetsOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Charlotte defeated Denver 110–87 on January 18 at Ball Arena, dominating a lopsided matchup that fell well short of the Vegas over-under at 225.5. The Hornets' balanced attack was led by Brandon Miller's 23 points and Royce Kalkbrenner's 17, while the visitors shot 49.4 percent from the field and drained 11 three-pointers to control the tempo throughout. Denver managed just 40.5 percent shooting and eight made threes, with Jamal Murray and Jalen Strawther combining for 31 points in a largely ineffective offensive effort. Charlotte's rebounding advantage was decisive—52 boards to Denver's 29—and the Hornets' 30 assists reflected crisp ball movement that translated to a 121.3 offensive rating. The decisive stretch came in the opening quarter, when Charlotte jumped out to 33 points and never relinquished control, holding Denver to just 18 in the first frame. Denver's defensive rating ballooned to 121.3, a troubling sign as the Nuggets continue to search for consistency on the road.
