Hornets vs. Nuggets prediction: Charlotte favored to win Sunday's NBA matchup [1/18/2026]

NBA action continues on Sunday at 8:00 PM ET as the Charlotte Hornets lock horns with the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.

Based on the latest simulations and today’s injury updates, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Hornets as the most likely winner of the Hornets vs. Nuggets game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Nuggets lineup will feature players like Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway, while the Hornets will rely on Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel.

This article offers a closer look at Sunday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Hornets vs. Nuggets prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Sunday's NBA game between the Hornets and Nuggets 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives the Hornets a 58% chance of defeating the Nuggets. Our predicted final score has the Hornets winning 114-111.

According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and the Hornets and Nuggets each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 225.5-point over/under has a 51% chance of going over.

Hornets vs. Nuggets odds

We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Hornets	Nuggets
Spread	-2.5 (-110)	+2.5 (-105)
Moneyline	-135	+124
Total	o225.5 (-115)	u225.5 (-105)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Hornets vs. Nuggets picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Nuggets +2.5	-105
Moneyline	Hornets	-135
Total	Under 225.5	-105

According to our best NBA bets for Sunday, the top play to make on this game is Hornets to win.

Hornets vs. Nuggets player props

NBA prop bets are a great way to wager on Sunday's Hornets vs. Nuggets game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Ball Arena.

Brandon Miller is expected to lead the Hornets with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jamal Murray is projected to have 28 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the Nuggets.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Hornets prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Hornets are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Brandon Miller	22	5	4	3	41
Miles Bridges	20	6	4	2	38
Kon Knueppel	20	5	4	3	36
LaMelo Ball	18	5	7	3	39
Collin Sexton	13	2	3	1	23

Nuggets prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Nuggets:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Jamal Murray	28	5	8	4	52
Peyton Watson	19	6	2	2	37
Tim Hardaway	16	3	2	3	26
Zeke Nnaji	9	5	2	1	22
Jalen Pickett	9	4	4	2	22

Hornets vs. Nuggets game-day updates and essential details

Sunday's action between the Nuggets and Hornets at Ball Arena is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets
• Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Ball Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Hornets, with a 58% win probability, will likely beat the Nuggets on Sunday, with Jamal Murray projected for a game-high 52 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Hornets vs. Nuggets insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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