New Orleans Hornets at Denver Nuggets
Monday, 1/9/12, 9:00 PM EST, TV: CST
Opening Point Spread: Denver -13.5
Current Betting Line: Denver -13
Opening Total: 191.5
Current Total: 192.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
New Orleans has lost six consecutive games and will end its two-game road trip Monday night in the Mile High City. The Hornets have also tallied a dismal 1-5 ATS record during their recent losing streak. “It’s difficult. It’s part of the season, part of the grind,” stated Hornets guard Jarrett Jack. “Getting healthy is part of it.” The team has been playing without the services of key players for most of the year, including Eric Gordon who is out for awhile with a knee injury. New Orleans is 0-3 ATS after three or more consecutive losses.
The Hornets have held seven of their first eight opponents under 100 points this season and ranks ninth in the NBA in allowing just 92.3 points per game. New Orleans also ranks fourth in the league in grabbing 45.8 rebounds per game. Part of the success on the glass is due to Emeka Okafor and Chris Kaman in the middle, leading the team with 8.0 and 7.9 rebounds per game respectively. Jack is leading the team in scoring 16.1 points per game.
Denver has won four of its last five games and returns home to open up a four-game homestand after splitting a two contests on the road. “We have the chance to have a really good team,” stated Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari. “We’ve just got to be more ready, more focused when we come out to start the game.” The Nuggets are averaging 112.5 points while winning 16 of their last 17 games inside the Pepsi Center. Four of the five starters are averaging double figures in scoring, as Gallinari leads all players on the roster in averaging 16.9 points per game. Denver is 3-0 ATS versus Southwest division opponents.
The Nuggets are 5-5 versus the Hornets in their last 10 meetings inside tonight’s venue, dropping a 96-87 affair as 5.5-point favorites during the 2010-11 campaign. Denver should definitely cruise to victory in this contest, as New Orleans is averaging a Western Conference-low 86.5 points per game. Head coach George Karl has a deep bench to play with on a nightly basis. “I petitioned the league to play a 60-minute game so I can get everybody minutes,” he stated this week in practice.
Bettors will likely back the Nuggets due to their 8-0-1 ATS mark as a home favorite of 11 points or more, while the Hornets are 1-4 ATS as an underdog.
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