Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 1/5/2019

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Charlotte Hornets travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, January 5, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 9.5 point favorites.

The Hornets head into this matchup with a mark of 18-19. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of 1.6 as they average 112.9 points per contest while giving up 111.4 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 25-11. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They total 110.3 points per contest and give up 105.1, which is a point differential of 5.2.

Valuable Charlotte Hornets Betting Trends

The Charlotte Hornets are 19-18-0 against the spread

The Charlotte Hornets are 20-17-0 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 20-16-0 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 16-20-0 against the over/under

Key Charlotte Hornets Injuries

01/03/19 G Jeremy Lamb Hamstring is questionable Saturday vs Denver
01/01/19 F Cody Zeller Hand is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

10/22/18 G Will Barton Hip is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kemba Walker comes into this contest averaging 25.4 points per game while playing 34.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 82%. Jeremy Lamb averages 15.3 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.0 assists per contest and 5.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Jamal Murray averages 18.8 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per game and has 5.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Nikola Jokic averages 18.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.0 rebounds per contest and 7.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Charlotte averages 112.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 21st. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 9th in the league. They average 44.2 rebounds per game and 24.1 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 16th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 30th with 12.0 per game. The Hornets allow 111.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 18th and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.6 rebounds a game which ranks 26th and they give up 25.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 27th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 19th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 19th in the league with 110.3 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.2. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 47.1 boards per game, and 2nd in assists per contest with 27.1. The Nuggets are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Nuggets surrender 105.1 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 23.7 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 42.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 10th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Hornets are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112, and their defensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 18th. As a team they are 17th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league. Charlotte is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 10.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 10th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 22nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 19th in the NBA. The Nuggets are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 108, and their offensive rating of 113.3 is ranked 9th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 17th. As a unit they are 19th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Hornets/Nuggets NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -9.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink