Nuggets Host Hornets in Sunday Night NBA Showdown
The Denver Nuggets expected an easier stretch at home this weekend. They looked for consecutive wins against struggling opponents. However, their plans nearly hit a snag on Saturday night. The Nuggets faced a tough challenge from the Washington Wizards despite their poor record.
Now attention turns to Sunday evening. The Nuggets will play the Charlotte Hornets at Ball Arena. This marks another Eastern Conference opponent with a losing season. Both teams enter this game playing for the second consecutive night.
Game Details and Broadcast Information
The matchup takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The Denver Nuggets hold a 29-13 record this season. They host the Charlotte Hornets who stand at 15-27. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado serves as the venue. Television coverage will be provided by FDSSE and ALT for home viewers. Fans can also stream the game online through Fubo and Prime Videos.
Projected Starting Lineups
Charlotte Hornets
- Point Guard: LaMelo Ball
- Shooting Guard: Kon Knueppel
- Small Forward: Brandon Miller
- Power Forward: Miles Bridges
- Center: Moussa Diabate
Denver Nuggets
- Point Guard: Jamal Murray
- Shooting Guard: Bruce Brown
- Small Forward: Spencer Jones
- Power Forward: Peyton Watson
- Center: Aaron Gordon
Injury Report for Both Teams
Charlotte Hornets
- Moussa Diabate: Day-to-day with a hamstring issue
- Mason Plumlee: Out after surgery for a right groin injury
Denver Nuggets
- Christian Braun: Out with an ankle injury
- Nikola Jokic: Out with a knee problem
- Jonas Valanciunas: Out, will be re-evaluated in four weeks for a right calf strain
- Cameron Johnson: Out, re-evaluation in 4-to-6 weeks due to a right knee contusion
- Tamar Bates: Out with a foot injury
Game Prediction and Recent Form
Sportsbooks set the over/under at 228.5 total points. The Nuggets enter as 1.5-point favorites on the spread. Moneyline odds show Denver at -120 to win straight up. Charlotte sits at +100 for a potential upset victory.
The Hornets complete a five-game Western Conference road trip with this contest. They currently hold a 2-2 record on this trip. Charlotte suffered a 136-116 defeat against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. They failed to cover as 7.5-point underdogs in that game. The over hit in that matchup.
Denver carries momentum into Sunday's game. The Nuggets ride a four-game winning streak. They have won six of their last seven contests. Their most recent victory came against Washington on Saturday night. The final score was 121-115. Denver failed to cover as 11.5-point home favorites. The over also hit in that game.
Charlotte seeks to finish their road trip with a winning record. They have victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz during this stretch. A win against Denver would achieve that goal.
