The Charlotte Hornets were looking to win two games in a row for the first time this season, but they faced a tough task at home hosting three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Hornets had to do so while dealing with multiple injuries, including LaMelo Ball’s bruised bone, which was the most notable absence.
Charlotte kept it competitive throughout the game, but in the second half Denver created separation, outscoring them in the final two quarters to secure a 115–106 win at the Spectrum Center.
Jamal Murray (34) and Nikola Jokic (24) led the way for the Nuggets, who were also without a key piece in Aaron Gordon. Denver’s depth stepped up, with Peyton Watson scoring 10 and Tim Hardaway Jr. adding 14 points off the bench.
The Nuggets are now 17–6, off to the best start to a season in franchise history. Denver also extended its record road winning streak to 10 games.
Coach Adelman on the win
“This was the most enjoyable win in a while because it was grimy,” said coach David Adelman postgame. “We have been scoring so easy… the way they (Hornets) played made the game a grind because they made some tough shots and were playing super hard defensively… it was good for us to win a game like that. Once we took the lead in the third quarter I think we took control from there.”
“It’s a great group of guys — we’re super serious about our approach to the game and I think it shows when we go out there on the court,” Peyton Watson added after learning about the historic start (AltitudeTV). “There are some things we need to clean up, myself included, but this is a good start and we look to get better from here.”
On the Hornets’ end, Miles Bridges finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists but struggled from three-point range, missing all six attempts. Third-year forward Brandon Miller added 16 points, while rookie Liam McNeeley recorded a career-high 13 points off the bench, hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.