The Charlotte Hornets delivered a dominant wire-to-wire display to dismantle the Denver Nuggets 110–87 on Sunday night, snapping an eight-game losing streak against the defending champions.
Fast Start Sets The Tone
Charlotte took control from the opening tip, racing to a 22–9 first-quarter lead as Denver struggled to generate offence. The Hornets never looked back, stretching the margin to a commanding 60–34 advantage by halftime, Denver’s lowest first-half total in more than 11 years.
Balanced Hornets Attack
Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner led the way, tying his career high with 17 points. Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel added 14 points each, while Tidjane Salaun recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. LaMelo Ball chipped in 10 points, helping Charlotte maintain control throughout.
Denver Struggles Shorthanded
The Nuggets endured a night to forget offensively, finishing with a season-low 87 points and shooting just 8-for-38 from three-point range. Jamal Murray scored 16 points before exiting late in the third quarter, with Julian Strawther adding 15. Jalen Pickett and Peyton Watson contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Denver was missing several key players, including Nikola Jokić, Cameron Johnson, Jonas Valančiūnas, and Christian Braun, absences that were evident as the game wore on.
No Way Back
Charlotte pushed the lead to as many as 29 points after the break, highlighted by Ball’s three-pointer midway through the third quarter. The Hornets entered the final period ahead 87–57 and comfortably closed out the contest to seal an emphatic road victory and halt Denver’s home momentum.
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