Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets, 1/5/19 NBA Predictions & Odds

Hornets vs. Nuggets Prediction

Will the Denver Nuggets manage to cover nearly a double-digit spread at home when they play host to the Charlotte Hornets today at 5PM ET?

Game Snapshot & Odds

545 Charlotte Hornets vs. 546 Denver Nuggets

Saturday, January 5, 2019

5PM ET – Pepsi Center

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Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Nuggets are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -9.5 points against the Hornets. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 218.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 51 percent going on the Hornets as the road underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.

Hornets slipping

Charlotte is coming off a 122-84 loss at home to Dallas on Wednesday for its fourth loss in six games. The Hornets have failed to cover in all four losses. Charlotte is 18-19 overall, 4-11 on the road, 19-18 against the spread and 20-17 with the over.

The Hornets have a pretty strong offense, averaging 112.9 points per game while shooting 35.8 percent from the arc. Defensively, Charlotte is giving up 111.4 points per game. Cody Zeller had been out for a while with a hand injury and guard Jeremy Lamb is questionable tonight with a hamstring issue. Lamb averages 15.3 points per game this year and is second on the team in scoring. Kemba Walker is leading the team with 25.4 points per contest.

Nuggets on a hot streak

Denver is coming off a 117-113 win at Sacramento on Thursday for its fourth straight win. However, the Nuggets covered for the first time in six games in the victory. Denver is 25-11 overall, 15-3 at home, 20-16 against the spread and 20-15-1 with the under.

The Nuggets are one of the top defenses in the NBA, allowing just 105.1 points per game while limiting opponents to 32.9 percent shooting from the arc. Denver also allows the fewest rebounds in the league (42.0 per game) while pulling down 47.1 per contest. Jamal Murray leads Denver with 18.8 points per game while Nikola Jokic adds 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.

NBA Betting Trends

Charlotte

The Hornets are just 5-11-1 against the spread in their last 17 Saturday games and 1-5 ATS in their last six road games.

Denver

The Nuggets are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine home games and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a win.

Prediction:

Denver is being asked to cover a big spread, which I don’t love. However, the Hornets are very one dimensional with Lamb out. The team has to rely too much on Walker for offense and that should be a problem on the road against a good Denver team. The Nuggets are slowly healing up, which should help their offense start to catch up to their defense.

NBA Prediction: Denver Nuggets -9.5