Jamal Murray’s 25 points and Michael Porter Jr.’s 22 led the Denver Nuggets to a comfortable 111-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets during Monday’s NBA action, extending Charlotte’s losing streak to 11 games.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone praised the team’s focus on defense leading to effective offense, describing the win as symbolic of ‘Denver Nuggets basketball.’
“Guys were locked in, and defense was leading to offense,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We took care of it in the second half, and that’s Denver Nuggets basketball.”
Miles Bridges stood out for Charlotte with 26 points, while Nick Richards and Brandon Miller each added 15. The loss further compounded Charlotte’s troubles on the road, marking their eighth consecutive away defeat.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Denver’s Aaron Gordon made a notable return with 10 points after recovering from injuries caused by a dog bite on Christmas Day. Gordon, who had been out for two games, played with a protective bandage on his hand. Teammate Jamal Murray commented on Gordon’s positive impact, noting his contribution despite just returning.
“It’s always good having him out there, just his energy on the glass, or catching lobs, playing defense, whatever it is,” Murray said. “Obviously, he was just trying to get his legs back tonight because he’s been out for a while. But just him being around was good. He was embraced by the whole team.”
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The Hornets faced additional challenges with key players missing. Terry Rozier was out due to illness, joining the injured LaMelo Ball (right ankle sprain) and Gordon Hayward (left calf strain). Ish Smith, starting in Rozier’s place against his former team, was honored with a championship ring from his time with the Nuggets in a pregame ceremony.
The game was evenly matched at halftime with a 49-all tie, but the Nuggets surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 40-17. This included a 20-2 run initiated by a 3-pointer from Murray. Denver’s third-quarter dominance mirrored their previous game against Charlotte, where they had a strong third quarter en route to victory, establishing an 89-66 lead entering the fourth quarter.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Ish Smith reflected on the Hornets’ struggle in the third quarter, emphasizing the need to learn and grow from these losses, maintaining optimism for future improvement.
“That third quarter was a bugaboo for us,” Smith said. “But we’ve got to keep learning, keep growing. I hate that we’ve got to learn and grow through losses, but we’re going to be good. We’re going to push through some things. We’re going to press through some things because that’s what good teams do.”
Looking ahead, the Hornets face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday as part of a six-game trip, while the Nuggets will play against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
