7:05 pm
December 7

Nuggets @ Hornets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Denver Nuggets (17-7)

@ Charlotte Hornets (11-13)

 

Current odds:

Denver Nuggets: (+100)

Charlotte Hornets: (-120)

 

• The line for this game is Charlotte by 1.5 points.

• The Denver Nuggets look to extend their season-best winning streak to eight games when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. The streaking Nuggets recorded a 124-118 overtime victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday to push their Western Conference-best record to 17-7. Denver has notched five consecutive road victories, including the first three on the current five-game swing, but had to outplay Orlando in the extra session to collect Wednesday’s triumph.

• The Hornets are striving to break out of a slump as Wednesday’s 121-104 road loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves was their third straight defeat and fifth in six games. “Our margin for error is very small. We have to be perfect,” Charlotte coach James Borrego told reporters. “We have to be executing, especially against a team like this that is so talented and so deep.”

• Point guard Jamal Murray scored 31 points against Orlando for his highest output since his epic 48-point performance against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 5. Murray topped 20 points in four of the past five games and boasts a team-best 17.9 points per game. Center Nikola Jokic contributed 12 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds against the Magic and is averaging 14 assists over the past two games while posting seven outings of 10 or more this season.
• Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist figures to again be in the starting lineup in place of injured Marvin Williams and he produced nine points and five rebounds in 23 minutes in the loss to Minnesota. “He had a lot of energy. He helps us in transition and defensively, he’s very active,” Borrego told reporters of Kidd-Gilchrist. “I think it was a good start for him. He’s very comfortable with that first unit. Overall, a pretty good performance by him.” Guard Jeremy Lamb continues to play well as he had 18 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth career double-double as well as scoring in double digits for a career-best 16th straight time.
• The teams split last season’s two meetings with the home team winning by 17 points on each occasion.

• Denver SG Gary Harris (hip) will miss his second straight game.

• Williams (shoulder) will sit out for the second consecutive contest and could miss another week.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Denver Nuggets
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