Hornets Dominate Nuggets in Convincing Victory
In a dominant display on Sunday night, the Charlotte Hornets triumphed over the shorthanded Denver Nuggets with a decisive score of 110-87. The victory was largely fueled by Brandon Miller, who led the way with 23 points, while Tidjane Salaun made a significant contribution off the bench, netting 13 points along with 11 rebounds. Ryan Kalkbrenner also showed promise as a rookie, adding 17 points and six rebounds, and Collin Sexton chipped in 14 points with five assists. LaMelo Ball rounded out the scoring for Charlotte with 10 points, six assists, and three steals.
Importance of the Victory
This victory was crucial for the Hornets, who have struggled recently, winning just two of their last six games and having a disappointing 1-9 record against Denver in their past ten encounters. In fact, they entered this matchup coming off a tough stretch, making their performance even more impressive. Miller, who has been on a scoring tear, has averaged 25.7 points over the last three games.
Nuggets’ Challenges
The Nuggets faced significant challenges, as they were missing a considerable portion of their scoring power due to injuries. They were without five key players, including center Nikola Jokic, who is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee, and forward Aaron Gordon, who is sidelined with a right hamstring strain. Also absent were fellow forwards Cameron Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas due to respective knee and calf issues, as well as guard Christian Braun with an ankle sprain. Collectively, these players account for an average of 77.3 points per game, and their absence was glaring as Denver’s offense faltered, recording season lows in both total points (87) and three-point shooting percentage (21.1%).
Game Highlights
From the outset, Charlotte took control of the game, racing ahead to establish a commanding 29-11 lead early on. At halftime, they were ahead 60-34, bolstered by Miller’s impressive shooting, as he knocked down four of six three-pointers before the break. In fact, the lead ballooned to as much as 33 points during the second half. For Denver, Jamal Murray was the leading scorer with 16 points, but he saw a streak snapped where he had scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games. Despite the loss, the Nuggets had been performing well, having won six of their last seven games prior to this matchup, maintaining a record of 7-5 since Jokic’s injury on December 29 against the Miami Heat.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Hornets will return home to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night after completing a five-game road trip, while the Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
