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The Charlotte Hornets will play the Denver Nuggets in an inter-conference matchup on Thursday night. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a Hornets-Nuggets prediction and pick.
The Hornets and Nuggets will meet on Thursday as two of the lesser impacted teams by the recent surge of players entering the NBA's health and safety protocols. Denver is still a bit shorthanded due to injuries, while Charlotte has most of their key contributors healthy entering this one. The Nuggets are on the second half of a back-to-back, and enter this one as modest home favorites over the Hornets.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Hornets-Nuggets odds for this Thursday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: Hornets-Nuggets Odds
Charlotte Hornets +3 (-108)
Denver Nuggets -3 (-112)
Over 229 (-110)
Under 229 (-110)
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Why The Hornets Could Cover The Spread
Charlotte is healthy and is still looking to tap into whatever they had going on early in the season. The Hornets are just 3-7 in their last ten games and have lost three in a row heading into this one. LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier both missed time in league health and safety protocols recently, and the team has been a mess ever since. This will be a tough challenge vs. Denver, but the Hornets will have a rest edge. The Nuggets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, and will be completing the back-to-back in this one.
The Hornets are 7-10 vs. the spread as away underdogs this season, and 9-12 against the spread on the road overall. Charlotte is 7-3 against the spread overall across their last ten games. They are 19-14 overall against the spread on the season.
Why The Nuggets Could Cover The Spread
The Nuggets suffered a rough road loss vs. the Thunder on Wednesday, and will looking to get things going back in the right direction vs. the Hornets. Denver sits as the No. 8 seed heading into this one and is 5-5 in their last ten games. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has done his best to keep Denver afloat, but the absences of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. remain huge as the Nuggets have struggled to replace the production.
Denver always has a chance with Jokic but this could be a tough spot on a back-to-back after traveling home from Oklahoma City late on Wednesday. The Hornets have not been very good of late, however. The Nuggets are 5-5 vs. the spread in their last ten games and 4-5 as home favorites this season. Denver could be in position to get the cover and the win vs. one of the NBA's worst defenses. The Hornets give up 11 points
Final Hornets-Nuggets Prediction and Pick
This is a tough one, but take the Nuggets in this spot. Denver will be desperate to not drop the third game our of their last four and not get swept on the back-to-back by two teams they should beat. Jokic should be able to handle the Hornets' weak defensive attack, while the Nuggets typically play solid defense and should be able to do a decent job guarding Charlotte.
Jokic will need a heroic effort again in this one, but that is something he makes look ordinary. Back the MVP and the Nuggets on Thursday in this one, despite being a bit undermanned on the back-to-back.
Final Hornets-Nuggets Prediction & Pick: Nuggets -3 (-112)
