Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Denver Nuggets return to action, well-rested and ready for the final stretch of the regular season as they host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night.
The Hornets were in action Wednesday in the first NBA game since the All-Star break, defeating the Lakers 100-97 in Los Angeles. They come into Thursday’s game with some momentum but will face a well-rested Nuggets team that hasn’t played in a week.
Wednesday’s game was initially scheduled for January 9 but was postponed due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area. This game also marked the return of Mark Williams, who faced the team he was traded to at the deadline before the deal was rescinded due to a failed physical. Williams had 10 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
Before Wednesday night, the Hornets had struggled over the past month, losing 11 of their last 13 games and falling out of the postseason hunt. Continuity has been an issue, as no player has appeared in all 53 games this season.
LaMelo Ball leads the Hornets, averaging 27.3 points and 7.2 assists. Brandon Miller follows with 21.0 points, Miles Bridges adds 19.5 points, and Mark Williams contributes 15.6 points per game.
Thursday night will be the second and final meeting between these teams this season. Denver won the first meeting 107-104 on February 1, thanks to a triple-double from Nikola Jokic. That victory was the second in the Nuggets’ current winning streak, which has propelled them into third place in the Western Conference.
Despite an uneven start to the season (11-10), the Nuggets have played well even while dealing with injuries. Russell Westbrook has missed the last seven games with a hamstring strain, Michael Porter Jr. has been out the last three games due to hamstring tightness, and Aaron Gordon has missed a total of 23 games, mostly due to a right calf strain. Coach Michael Malone has had to adjust his starting lineups and will have decisions to make with Westbrook, Porter, and Gordon listed as probable for Thursday night.
Christian Braun is averaging 15 points per game, one of six Denver players averaging double figures in scoring. Jokic leads the team with 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, ranking in the top five in the NBA in all three categories. Jamal Murray (21.0) and Michael Porter Jr. (19.0) are next in scoring, with Westbrook adding 13.0 points per game.
