Hornets floor the gas, stun Nuggets in 23-point rout
The Charlotte Hornets did not just beat the Denver Nuggets tonight. They ran them off the floor. Final score, 110-87, on Jan 18, 2026. It was loud, fast, and decisive. This is a signature win for a young Charlotte group and a gut check for a contender.
Final: Hornets 110, Nuggets 87. Denver is now 29-14.
Charlotte owned the pace, and the energy. The Hornets pressed the gas from the opening tip. They piled pressure on every Denver catch. Loose balls, long rebounds, and quick outlets turned into easy points. A 23-point win does not happen by accident. It happens when one team sets the terms and never lets go.
How Charlotte cracked Denver’s shell
Tempo and spacing
The Hornets attacked the first eight seconds of the clock. They hunted early paint touches and kept the ball hot. Drive, kick, swing, drive again. It wore on Denver’s legs. When the Nuggets sank to tag the roller, Charlotte sprayed to the corners. When the Nuggets stayed home, the rim opened. Simple reads, made at speed, changed the math.
Defensive shape
On defense, Charlotte showed a connected front. They walled off the lane, crowded post touches, and trusted the back line. Jokic still saw the floor, but the Hornets took away his easy outlets. Hands were active. The weak side pinched in. Second efforts turned into long Denver possessions that ended with contested jumpers.
Charlotte’s blueprint tonight, run off misses, touch the paint, protect the arc, finish plays on the glass.
Denver looked heavy, and Charlotte pounced
This was the second night of a back to back for Denver. It showed. Their cuts were a step late. Their closeouts lacked pop. The Nuggets can still grind games in the half court, but the juice was not there. Charlotte smelled it and kept pushing. Every Hornet who checked in brought fresh legs and a clear job.
Denver’s stars saw extra bodies and not enough space. The bench could not flip the rhythm. When the Nuggets did string stops, they failed to cash in with clean looks. The Hornets beat them to 50-50 balls and to the spot in transition. That is how an 8-point lead stretches to 15, then 20, then the horn.
Schedule traps are real. The best teams get caught when pace meets fatigue.
Who moved the needle
Charlotte’s guards were the engine. They pushed, probed, and made the simple pass. LaMelo Ball set the tempo with quick outlets and smart changes of speed. Brandon Miller worked the wings, knocked down rhythm jumpers, and defended without fouling. Miles Bridges bullied smaller matchups and kept the glass clean. Mark Williams offered strong rim protection and vertical spacing that forced Denver to collapse.
For Denver, Nikola Jokic read every coverage and kept fighting for angles. Jamal Murray searched for lift and touch, but clean windows were rare. The Nuggets needed their role players to splash threes to stretch Charlotte’s shape. Those shots rimmed out. When Denver cannot bend a defense with pace or shooting, the game turns into a slog.
Four swings that told the story
- Early 9-0 Hornets burst off turnovers set the tone.
- A bench-led Charlotte run late in the first half widened the gap.
- Back to back Hornets threes to open the third crushed Denver’s push.
- A late 8-2 Charlotte spurt closed the door before the reserves finished it.
What this means next
For the Hornets, this is a validation night. The plan travels. Play fast, share the ball, and defend with discipline. It builds belief in a locker room that needs proof, not promises. Wins like this change how a season feels. The film room will show clean habits, not just hot shooting.
For the Nuggets, this is a reminder. The margin is slimmer on tired legs, and execution must carry you. Rotations will tighten. The staff will stress paint protection and transition lanes. Denver has been one of the league’s best, and they still are, but they will see this tape again. Opponents will try to copy Charlotte’s pace and pressure.
The gap in the score speaks loud. A 23-point spread against a top West team is rare, and it matters. Charlotte earned it by dictating tempo and winning every effort battle. Denver will bounce back. That is what contenders do. Tonight belongs to the Hornets.
Charlotte 110, Denver 87. A statement, and a spark. The league noticed, and so did both locker rooms. The next time these teams meet, expect a different kind of fight. The bar is set.
