The Charlotte Hornets (15-27) and Denver Nuggets (29-13) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Nuggets are 1.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread, with the over/under set at 228.5 total points. Denver is -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, January 18.
Hornets vs Nuggets Prediction
- Hornets vs Nuggets pick: Hornets +1.5 (-110)
My Hornets vs Nuggets best bet is on Charlotte to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Nuggets Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 228.5 -110o / -110u | +100 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 228.5 -110o / -110u | -120 |
Hornets vs Nuggets NBA Preview
The Charlotte Hornets come into this matchup with a 15-27 record and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference. They are 8-15 on the road and have struggled to find consistency throughout the season.
The Hornets have mixed big wins with tough losses. They recently blew out the Jazz and the Lakers, but also suffered a heavy defeat against the Warriors, where perimeter defense was a major issue after allowing 23 three-pointers.
LaMelo Ball remains the key piece — when he’s playing well, the Hornets are tough to stop.
Denver, meanwhile, continues to trend upward. The Nuggets are 29-13 on the season, 12-6 at home, and sit third in the Western Conference. They enter this game on a four-game winning streak.
Over their last seven games, Denver has lost only once, falling to the Hawks. Even without Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have found ways to win, largely thanks to the strong form of Jamal Murray — He averages 36.6 in the last three games.
Hornets vs Nuggets Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Small NBA Road Dogs Against Public system focuses on games where visiting teams are slight underdogs in both regular and postseason play.
These matchups often feature public bias toward home favorites, especially when the spread is small and perceived as manageable.
When the road team draws little betting support and the overall betting volume is below the daily average, it signals that the market has tilted too far toward the home side.
These conditions frequently lead to inflated lines that undervalue competitive visiting teams capable of keeping games close or winning outright.
Early or midseason scheduling advantages, tighter rotations, and underdog motivation all contribute to the visitor’s ability to outperform expectations when public sentiment and pricing diverge.
Pick: Hornets +1.5 (-110)
Spread
My Nuggets vs. Hornets betting prediction is on Charlotte to cover the spread at +1.5.
Moneyline
I prefer to take the 1.5 points with the Hornets as opposed to targeting the moneyline in this game.
Over/Under
No play on the total.
