Opinion
3 min read

Denver Nuggets Aim to Sting the Charlotte Hornets in New Year's Showdown

As the Denver Nuggets prepare to host the Charlotte Hornets at Ball Arena on January 1st, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Nuggets, coming off a mixed bag of performances, will be looking to assert their dominance on home turf.


SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 2: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots a three point basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 2, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their last game against Oklahoma City Thunder on December 30th, the Nuggets fell short despite a valiant effort. Scoring 93 points against Thunder's 119 highlighted some defensive frailties that need urgent attention. With an assist-turnover ratio of 1.88 and shooting just 27 percent from beyond the arc, it's clear that offensive efficiency must improve if they are to overcome their next opponents.


However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for Denver; they managed to draw more fouls than Thunder and had a commendable free throw percentage of 73 percent. This aggressive play style is something they'll want to replicate against Charlotte.


Looking back at another recent game on December 29th where Denver trounced Memphis Grizzlies with an emphatic scoreline of 142-105, there's evidence that when firing on all cylinders, this team can be unstoppable. A staggering field goal percentage of 57 percent and an even more impressive three-point percentage of nearly half show just how lethal DEN can be when their shooters get hot.


The key takeaway from these past games is consistency – or rather, the lack thereof. The Nuggets have shown they possess both high-caliber offensive prowess as well as areas needing improvement defensively.


Charlotte Hornets will not make things easy for them either. They come into this game with their own set of strengths which could pose problems for Denver’s defense if not addressed properly in practice sessions leading up to tip-off.


Nuggets fans should expect Coach Malone and his staff to have worked tirelessly over these past few days focusing on defensive schemes while also ensuring offensive plays run smoothly come game time.


With January first marking not only a new year but also another chance for redemption after their last outing at Ball Arena ended in defeat; expect DEN players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (if healthy) among others to step up big time in front of home supporters eager for victory celebrations post-game.


The scheduled tip-off is set at 7:00 PM Mountain Time (MT), so mark your calendars! Fans can catch all the action live from Ball Arena or tune into ALT channel number 681 if watching from home within Denver territory; alternatively BSSE channel number649 will broadcast away coverage for those supporting Charlotte Hornets.

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