Hornets at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets will try to complete a perfect three-game homestand when they host the streaking Charlotte Hornets on Monday. The Nuggets averaged 121 points in wins over Oklahoma City and NBA-leading Golden State, which gave them a 20-7 record at home - including 14-3 against their own conference.
"It was huge, especially coming off an emotional win over (Oklahoma City)," Denver's Gary Harris told reporters after the 115-108 win over the Warriors on Saturday. "For us to come and get the defending world champs was huge." Will Barton scored 25 points and Nikola Jokic recorded 19 and nine rebounds for Denver, which will be looking to avenge a 17-point loss to the Hornets earlier this season - Charlotte's third straight win in the all-time series. The Hornets are streaking into the rematch with three consecutive victories in which they've averaged 123.7 points. They rallied from 21 points down to post a 115-110 victory at Phoenix on Sunday and match their longest winning streak of the season.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (23-29): Nicolas Batum scored a team-high 22 points against the Suns as the veteran from France is enjoying the best stretch of an otherwise disappointing season. He has recorded at least 22 points in three of his last four games, and in the one contest he fell short - a 10-point effort at Atlanta on Wednesday - the 29-year-old finished with his first triple-double of the campaign. Dwight Howard recorded his 700th career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds at Phoenix and registered 15 and 20 in the win over Denver earlier this season.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (28-25): The win over the Warriors was Denver's second against the defending champs in a little over a month, and confidence is on the rise for a young squad that has captured five of seven overall. "I think it is a belief," coach Michael Malone told reporters. "I think our guys believe in what we are doing, they believe in each other and they believe in themselves. … I couldn't be prouder of our guys." The 5-2 stretch coincides with the move that put Barton back in the starting lineup, and the Memphis product is averaging 18 points over his last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Jokic is averaging 19.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.6 assists over his last five games.
2. Hornets PF Frank Kaminsky is 4-for-26 from 3-point range over his last six contests.
3. Howard needs 10 double-doubles to tie Charles Barkley for seventh place on the all-time list.