Denver, CO
Charlotte Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-1-2024
The Charlotte Hornets (7-23; 13-17-0 ATS) are still on the road to ring in the new year. Their journey takes them to Ball Arena on Monday, home of the defending champion Denver Nuggets (23-11; 15-19-0 ATS). The January 1, 2024 contest is scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Nuggets have won four in a row against the Hornets. Is the streak going to continue, or are the Hornets ready to take steps forward in 2024?
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Hornets are Grounded
Charlotte ended 2023 with 10 straight losses, the longest active streak to close the year. The last three came on the West Coast, as the most recent was a 14-point defeat in Phoenix. All of them have come without LaMelo Ball, while Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams are also out for Charlotte. Those absences are an issue for a team that’s 26th in offensive rating. The Hornets average the fewest free throw attempts per game and rank 25th in true shooting percentage. Their efficiency is below average in all areas of the floor. Along with that, Charlotte is subpar with ball security and offensive rebounding. They’ve only reached 110 points four times during the losing streak, and Monday presents another tough test.
Charlotte is ranked last in defensive rating, so don’t expect them to make up for offensive deficiencies on the other end of the floor. They allow the highest three-point percentage and effective field goal percentage in the NBA. They’re 24th in defensive rebounding percentage, so teams often get extra chances too. If there’s any silver lining, the Hornets held Denver to 102 points on December 23. It was their best performance during this losing streak. Still, things are ugly on the defensive end in Charlotte.
Nuggets’ Nasty Loss
Meanwhile, the Nuggets got embarrassed by the Thunder at home on Friday, falling by 26 to snap a six-game winning streak. Denver has three home losses all season, and two came against OKC. Since December 11, the Nuggets are 9-2, with the only losses coming against the Nuggets. This team that’s eighth in offensive rating thanks to Nikola Jokic should be ecstatic that the Thunder are out of the way. The Nuggets are only 16th in true shooting percentage, but the fourth-best turnover percentage and eighth-highest offensive rebounding percentage optimize most possessions. Denver is eighth in three-point percentage. Getting to the free-throw line and converting those chances is an issue, yet the Nuggets are still a well-oiled machine offensively.
Denver is also tough defensively, ranking eighth in defensive rating. That’s even with a subpar turnover percentage and Aaron Gordon (questionable) missing a few games lately. At all three levels of the floor, the Nuggets are a top-10 team at forcing missed shots. They’re also decent at defensive rebounding and keeping foes off the free-throw line. Thanks to a slow pace, they allow the third-fewest points per game. Defense wins championships, and the Nuggets won it all last season for a reason.
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Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
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With the way Denver is playing against everyone not based in Oklahoma City, there shouldn’t be any questions about who wins this game. Considering that Charlotte has dropped 10 straight, the Nuggets winning is a given. The question is, by how much?
Well, Denver only shot 43.3% in the first meeting, well below their season average of 49.0% (4th). That number should drastically improve against a Hornets defense that is the NBA’s worst and allows the 27th-highest field goal percentage this season. The Nuggets can hold the Hornets offense to fewer than 110 points again, even if Charlotte outperforms the 95 they scored against Denver a few weeks ago. This will be a blowout win for the Nuggets.
Prediction: Denver Nuggets -14.5
Full-Game Total Pick
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The last game didn’t manage to reach 200 total points. Denver plays at the NBA’s second-slowest pace, and the Hornets are also below average. This will be a game with limited possessions, which will keep scoring in check.
Charlotte’s losing streak has included six games with less than 110 points, including only 95 against the Nuggets. That trend should extend into this game, which leaves the total in Denver’s hands. The Nuggets will score plenty, but not reach 120. This game will remain under the total when it’s finished.
Prediction: Under 227.5
Denver, CO
Police searching for information after fatal assault in Denver
Denver police are looking for information that could help them identify the suspect in a fatal assault overnight.
Officers were called to the scene in the 9700 block of E. Hampden Avenue around 2:08 a.m. They said an injured man at the scene was taken to a hospital for treatment, but he has been pronounced deceased.
DPD says they’re investigating the case as a homicide. They did not provide the identity of the man who was killed or further details on the case.
Police encouraged anyone with information about the attack or the possible suspect(s) involved to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
Denver, CO
Richard Jackson Obituary | The Denver Post
Richard Jackson
OBITUARY
Richard E. Jackson, affectionately called “Jackson”, was beloved by his family, friends and colleagues. He passed peacefully surrounded by his wife and children. He was receiving exceptional medical care at City Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center at the time of his death. A devout Catholic, he received his Last Rights from Fr. John Ludanha of Blessed Sacrament Church and School.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Gannon University and a Master’s degree in Education from the George Washington University. For over 30 years, he was employed by the federal government, mostly as an analyst for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Other positions he held were: Beneficiary Services Specialist, Division of Medicare, Health Care Financing Administration; Public Affairs Specialist for SSA; and Management Analyst SSA Office of Management and Budget. After he retired, he was a consultant to the State of Colorado Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Jackson was a devoted father, step-father and foster father. He would take over the kitchen and cook spaghetti and meatballs, a family favorite, and then transport children to gymnastics practice and friends’ houses. He had a remarkable sense of humor, bringing joy and laughter to his home. He adored his wife and would leave her weekly love notes in drawers around the house. Exercising at the Denver Athletic Club, taking walks with his wife, and reading the New York Times were three of his favorite activities. He was born in Westfield, New York. His parents were Canadian immigrants. He was the youngest of eight children.
He is survived by his wife, Joycee Kennedy; his children – Kimberly Jackson (Mike Estes), Dawn Jennings (Ed Jennings) and Kevin Jackson; his stepchildren – Cary Kennedy (Saurabh Mangalik) and Jody Kennedy (Christopher Thompson); his grandchildren – Elizabeth, Chase and Drew; his step grandchildren – Kadin, Kyra, Bryce and Sena; and his first wife Madonna Smyth.
Services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church – the time and day to be announced.
Denver, CO
Students push for statewide
Students from across the Denver metro are heading to the state Capitol to push for free after-school opportunities statewide.
The proposal would create a “My Colorado Card” program, giving students in sixth through 12th grades access to cultural, arts, recreational and extracurricular activities throughout the state.
For students like Itzael Garcia, Denver’s existing “My Denver Card” made a life-changing difference. He said having access to his local recreation center helped keep him safe.
“We had a couple stray bullets go through our living room window, we had people get shot in front of our house, different things like that,” Garcia said. “Over the summer, being able to go to the public pool, it provided a space for us to all come together. In a way, it acted as a protective factor.”
The My Denver Card provides youth ages 5 to 18 with free access to the zoo, museums and recreation centers. For some, like Garcia, it has served as a safe haven.
That impact is why students involved with the nonprofit FaithBridge helped craft legislation to expand a similar pilot program to communities outside Denver.
“We really just thought that inequity and really distinct opportunity deserts for students was really important for us to correct,” said Mai Travi a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School. Another student echoed that sentiment.
“We have a lot of students in the program that come from Aurora Public Schools, and they don’t have access to the same cultural facilities that we have living here; opportunities that really define our childhood experiences,” said Jack Baker, also a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Vernon Jones, director of the nonprofit FaithBridge, said organizers are still working out logistics but hope to partner with counties across Colorado.
“This is a strategy to work for all of Colorado,” he said.
Denver school board member Marlene De La Rosa said the My Denver Card program has been impactful since its launch in 2013.
“For students that are on free and reduced lunch, the ‘My Denver Card’ can help scholarship some of their fees to participate in the youth sports at the recreation centers,” De La Rosa said.
Last year, 45,000 Denver youth had a card, accounting for 450,000 visits to recreation centers, outdoor pools and cultural facilities, she said.
“I think it is very beneficial,” De La Rosa said.
The Denver program is funded by city tax dollars approved by voters in 2012. The proposed statewide pilot would instead rely on donations and grants.
The bill has cleared its first committee but still needs approval from the full House and Senate.
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