Denver Nuggets vs. Charlotte Hornets Preview
Where: Spectrum Center — Charlotte, NC
When: Friday, March 31, 2017 – 7:00 PM ET
Line: Denver Nuggets (+2) vs. Charlotte Hornets (-2); total: 220.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: FOX Sports
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Betting on the Denver Nuggets (35-39)
With the 122-113 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Nuggets put their postseason hopes in jeopardy, who are now outside the West’s playoff picture.
Their reliable offense, which is top four in points and efficiency, was there, as six guys scored 13 or more points, but the season-long blues from their 28th-ranked defense killed their chances once again. Adding injury to insult is former player Jusuf Nurkic bulldozing them for 33 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks.
This will be Denver’s second and final meeting with the Hornets this season. They lost in the previous meeting at home, 112-102. Nikola Jokic looked unstoppable in the contest, shooting 13-for-15 from the field for 31 points, while also grabbing 14 boards and dishing four dimes.
As they try to bounce back, Jokic will obviously be the man to watchout for. Five active players on the team are averaging double-digit points this year, but the Serbian in on a whole different level. He’s dominating the box score and blowing the mind of fantasy owners for months now, as he puts up 19.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on an impressive 59.1 percent shooting since being a full-time starter last mid December.
The Nuggets are 11-9 in their last 20 games (12-8 ATS).
Betting on the Charlotte Hornets (34-41)
The Hornets will enter the contest having won five of their previous seven. However, it doesn’t really mean anything since they are all but eliminated for the playoffs. For them to advance, they may need to win all of their remaining seven contests and Miami, Indiana, Chicago, Atlanta, or Milwaukee to lose theirs, which is very unlikely.
As mentioned, Charlotte came out on top in their visit to Denver weeks back. The high-powered attack of Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum guided the team that night, as the two combined for 48 points, 12 assists, and nine threes. Marvin Williams, though, was also effective, as he double-doubled for 14 points and 12 rebounds on 5-for-7 shooting, along with swatting a pair of shots.
Walker, Batum, and the rest of “Buzz City” are an unpredictable 10-10 in their last 20 games (8-12 ATS). Their stats in that span are also very middle-of-the-pack – 106.1 PPG on 45 percent shooting. They are, however, just 5-17 in their last 22 games on the road.
Writer’s Prediction
The Hornets fail to match the Nuggets’ (+2) explosive offense, 115-104.
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