Nuggets vs Hornets

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets come into Charlotte riding a nine-game road winning streak and a 16-6 overall mark, while the 7-16 Hornets have dropped seven of their last ten and continue to search for consistency. Denver is banged up on the wings with Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun still sidelined, but Jamal Murray is back from his recent ankle scare, and Jokic has already shredded this matchup with a 28-point, 17-assist, 13-rebound triple-double in Charlotte last season. Charlotte’s own injury report is crowded, with LaMelo Ball nursing ankle soreness and multiple rotation guards and forwards (including Collin Sexton and Grant Williams) either out or limited, which undercuts their depth and late-game offense even at home. Laying -480 on the moneyline isn’t cheap, but with Denver’s superior star power, road form, and recent dominance in the series, Nuggets ML is the straightforward side, worth a Grade B for high likelihood but modest value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 07/12/2025 09:41am

LaMelo Ball’s on-court minutes, even while listed day-to-day, continue to push Charlotte’s tempo and offensive ceiling, and that’s critical against a Denver group that’s averaging in the 120s during its current two-game win streak and has gone over the total in the majority of its contests. With Gordon and Braun out, the Nuggets lean even harder into offense-heavy lineups around Jokic and Murray, which boosts scoring but softens their perimeter and help defense, while the Hornets’ own defensive rotations suffer from absences among their better-sized wings and forwards. Recent trends show these teams combining for roughly 240 points per game, and last season’s Jokic-led triple-double night in Charlotte still came with the Nuggets winning despite stretches of leaky defense, a script that fits another high-total evening. Given Denver’s elite offensive efficiency, Charlotte’s shaky defense, and both clubs’ season-long tilt toward higher totals, Over 234 gets a Grade B as a solid but high-variance play in a game where a late scoring lull is the main risk. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 07/12/2025 09:41am

The Hornets, despite their 7-16 record, have been quietly competent against the number, covering in roughly half their games and cashing the only time they were catching 10.5 or more, while Denver is just mediocre ATS in the double-digit favorite role even with a nine-game road streak. Charlotte’s offense is volatile but has enough shot creation between Ball, Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller to backdoor big numbers, and Nuggets injuries to Gordon, Braun and bench scorer Julian Strawther trim some of Denver’s lineup versatility and high-end defensive length that usually fuels blowouts. Jokic has historically carved Charlotte up and still makes a straight-up Hornets win unlikely, yet a tired road favorite with thin depth laying double digits against a hungry, home underdog with decent ATS form is enough to lean toward Hornets +10.5. With Denver still capable of flipping the switch and winning by 20 on a hot shooting night, this lands at a Grade B- as a slight value play on the number rather than the team. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 07/12/2025 09:41am