Nuggets vs. Hornets Picks and Prediction for Sunday, December 7, 2025
Use Code WWWC On Sunday, the Denver Nuggets will face the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, and we have you ready to go with our Nuggets vs. Hornets prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Buzz City is at 6:00 p.m. ET.
This is the first matchup of the season between these teams. Denver won both games last season and is 9-1 (4-6 ATS) in the last ten. The under was 7-3. If you want the Nuggets vs. Hornets prediction, read on to get our top NBA predictions and increase your bankroll!
Denver has struggled defensively, especially lately
Denver (16-6 SU, 13-9 ATS, and 15-7 O/U) beat Atlanta 134-133 on Friday, failing to cover the 3.5-point spread. The Nuggets scored 80 points in the second half, including 40 in the fourth, to climb back from a 23-point deficit. Both squads shot over 50 percent from the floor and over 40 percent from three, but the Nuggets outscored the Hawks in the paint and in transition.
C Nikola Jokic leads Denver in scoring at 29.2 points per game on 60.8 percent shooting. He also averages 12.4 rebounds and 11.0 assists. A few other Nuggets to watch on Sunday against the Hornets are G Jamal Murray (24.6 PPG and 6.9 APG), G Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.9 PPG), and F Cameron Johnson (11.3 PPG).
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Denver scores 125.5 points per game (1st) and shoots 51.3 percent from the field (1st), including 39.8 percent from beyond the arc (3rd). The Nuggets give up 116.9 points per game (18th) on 46.6 percent shooting (12th), including 34.3 percent from downtown (7th). They are 3rd in NET rating, including 1st in offensive rating and 21st in defensive rating, per Dunks and Threes.
Denver Nuggets Injury Report:
- G Christian Braun (11.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG) is out (ankle).
- F Aaron Gordon (18.8 PPG) is out (hamstring).
Hornets made a solid impression on Friday
Charlotte (7-16 SU, 11-12 ATS, and 8-15 O/U) defeated Toronto 111-86 on Friday, covering as six-point underdogs. The Hornets, who have beaten the Raptors twice recently, shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 13 treys. The Raptors were inefficient offensively (37 percent shooting) and committed 20 turnovers, which led to 29 Charlotte points.
F Miles Bridges leads Charlotte in scoring at 20.8 points per game. He also averages 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 dimes. The Hornets score 114.6 points per game (21st) on 45.3 percent shooting (23rd), including 34.4 percent from three-point range (23rd). Defensively, Charlotte allows 118.5 points per game (23rd) on 49.1 percent shooting (27th), including 39.3 percent from beyond the arc (30th).
Charlotte went 19-63 last season, finishing 14th in the East and missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. Injuries stung the Hornets, as LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller missed significant playing time, leaving Miles Bridges (20.3 PPG in 64 games) as the team's leading scorer. The Hornets made several intriguing moves in the offseason, picking Duke sharpshooting freshman Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick in the draft and adding late first/early second-round talent in UConn forward Liam McNeeley, Duke guard Sion James, and Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner. The front office also traded for former first-round pick Collin Sexton and brought in veterans Pat Connaughton, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Mason Plumlee to support their young core.
Charlotte Hornets Injury Report:
- G Collin Sexton (15.5 PPG) is day-to-day (thigh).
- G Tre Mann (9.2 PPG) is day-to-day (knee).
Nuggets vs. Hornets Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Nuggets vs. Hornets
- Charlotte +10.5 (4 Units)
Denver has been slipping down the rankings defensively, as it doesn't seem compelled to compete on that end of the court (127 PPG allowed in the previous five games). The visitors struggle to defend the rim (24th in opponent Rim%) and the mid-range, ranking 20th in opponent two-point percentage. The Hornets got back in the win column on Friday, beating Toronto by 25 as six-point 'dogs. They will cover at home on Sunday, building off their solid shooting performance by attacking the Nuggets inside.
Over/Under Pick for Nuggets vs. Hornets
- Over 234 (5 Units)
Betting Trend: The over is 9-1 in Denver's last ten games, with seven consecutive overs.
Denver is dead last in opponent turnover percentage and takes good care of the basketball on offense, so both teams should have plenty of scoring opportunities. Neither squad is stout defensively, ranking 21st and 26th in defensive rating, and the Nuggets tend to speed up their opponents, averaging the third-shortest defensive possession length in the NBA. Will Charlotte pour on the points? Probably not, but they'll score enough to be competitive and push the total over on Sunday.
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