Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats

The charlotte hornets vs denver nuggets match player stats from the January 19, 2026 matchup tell a much more detailed story than the final score alone. Charlotte defeated Denver 110-87 at Ball Arena, controlling the game from the opening quarter and building a lead that reached 33 points. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 23 points, while Tidjane Salaün delivered 13 points and 11 rebounds. Ryan Kalkbrenner added 17 points, and LaMelo Ball finished with 10 points, six assists, and three steals. For Denver, Jamal Murray scored 16 points, while Jalen Pickett contributed 12 points and seven assists. The official NBA game record confirms the 110-87 final score and the quarter-by-quarter breakdown.

Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats: Game Overview

The matchup took place at Ball Arena in Denver, where 19,971 fans attended. Charlotte produced one of its strongest all-around performances of the season, winning every quarter and never allowing Denver to establish a sustained offensive rhythm.

The final quarter score was the only period in which Denver outscored Charlotte. By that point, however, the Hornets had already created a 26-point halftime advantage and entered the fourth quarter with a 26-point lead.

Final Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Charlotte Hornets	33	27	27	23	110
Denver Nuggets	18	16	23	30	87

Charlotte’s 23-point victory was built primarily during the first three quarters. The Hornets scored 87 points through three periods while Denver managed only 57.

The official NBA recap described the result as a wire-to-wire Charlotte victory. The Hornets also led by as many as 33 points during the second half.

That matters when evaluating individual player numbers. A player who produces strong statistics in a game with a large lead may have a very different role from someone producing similar numbers in a tightly contested fourth quarter.

How Charlotte Took Control Early

The most important statistical feature of the game was Charlotte’s start.

The Hornets scored 33 points in the opening quarter while limiting Denver to 18. That 15-point advantage immediately changed the structure of the game.

Charlotte then won the second quarter 27-16.

At halftime, the scoreboard showed:

Charlotte 60, Denver 34

A 26-point halftime advantage is significant because it changes what both coaching staffs can prioritize. Charlotte could focus on maintaining control, moving the ball, defending without unnecessary risk, and giving additional opportunities to its rotation players. Denver, meanwhile, had to chase the game from a substantial deficit.

Charlotte’s early offensive efficiency was also important. The Hornets finished 44-for-89 from the field, good for 49 percent shooting. They made 11 of 34 three-point attempts and converted 11 of 13 free throws.

Denver finished 32-for-79 from the field, or about 41 percent, and went just 8-for-38 from three-point range.

The shooting difference alone explains a large portion of the final margin.

Brandon Miller’s 23-Point Performance

Brandon Miller was Charlotte’s leading scorer with 23 points.

He shot 8-for-15 from the field and made 4 of 9 attempts from three-point range. His scoring was especially valuable during the first half, when Charlotte established its decisive advantage.

Miller’s contribution was not simply about reaching the highest individual point total.

His efficiency mattered.

He made more than half of his field-goal attempts while also providing legitimate three-point pressure. That combination forced Denver to respect him outside the paint while creating additional space for Charlotte’s other players.

The official NBA recap noted that Miller scored 18 points in the first half and made four of his first six three-point attempts.

That first-half production is one of the clearest reasons Charlotte was able to build such a large lead before halftime.

Why Miller’s Shot Selection Mattered

A 23-point game can look ordinary if viewed without context. Miller’s performance becomes more significant when his efficiency and timing are considered.

Charlotte did not need Miller to take an extreme number of shots.

Instead, he produced 23 points from 15 field-goal attempts while the team received substantial scoring from its supporting cast.

That balance helped Charlotte avoid becoming overly dependent on one scorer.

For analysts studying individual performance, this is an important distinction. Raw points show how much a player scored. Shot volume and shooting efficiency help explain how effectively those points were generated.

Tidjane Salaün’s Double-Double

Tidjane Salaün was one of the most influential players outside the traditional scoring leader role.

He finished with:

• 13 points
• 11 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 1 block

His 11 rebounds gave Charlotte a major presence on the glass and helped the Hornets control second-chance opportunities.

The official game coverage identified Salaün’s double-double as one of the notable individual performances of the contest.

His contribution also illustrates why player statistics should not be judged exclusively through scoring.

A 13-point performance can be highly valuable when it comes with 11 rebounds and efficient team play.

Charlotte ultimately finished with a substantial rebounding advantage. Current official and major statistical listings record the Hornets with 61 total rebounds compared with 36 for Denver.

That 25-rebound difference was one of the biggest statistical separators in the game.

Ryan Kalkbrenner Provides 17 Points

Ryan Kalkbrenner gave Charlotte another major scoring source.

The rookie big man finished with 17 points and six rebounds. His scoring was particularly useful because Charlotte did not need to rely entirely on its primary perimeter scorers.

The official NBA recap noted that Kalkbrenner’s 17 points tied his career high at the time.

His performance also highlights the value of bench production.

Charlotte received meaningful scoring from players outside its top headline names, allowing the Hornets to maintain offensive pressure even when the game moved away from its early structure.

For anyone studying the charlotte hornets vs denver nuggets match player stats, Kalkbrenner’s 17 points should not be treated as a secondary footnote. His scoring helped make the team effort more difficult for Denver to contain.

LaMelo Ball’s Playmaking Impact

LaMelo Ball scored 10 points, but his six assists and three steals provide a better picture of his overall influence.

Ball’s role in this game was not primarily about taking the most shots.

Instead, he helped Charlotte create scoring opportunities for teammates.

Six assists are particularly meaningful when combined with Charlotte’s 30 total assists. The Hornets moved the ball efficiently enough to generate scoring contributions from multiple players.

Ball also added three steals, showing his defensive activity.

This is a useful reminder when interpreting player statistics: a point guard can have a major impact without leading the team in scoring.

In this matchup, Ball’s passing helped Charlotte maintain offensive variety, while his defensive activity contributed to the team’s ability to disrupt Denver.

Charlotte’s Supporting Cast

The Hornets received scoring from several players, which made their offensive attack difficult to reduce to one matchup.

Among the notable performances were:

Charlotte Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists
Brandon Miller	23	4	2
Ryan Kalkbrenner	17	6	Notable interior contribution
Collin Sexton	14	5	5
Tidjane Salaün	13	11	2
Kon Knueppel	14	4	3
LaMelo Ball	10	3	6

The available game reporting confirms Miller’s 23 points, Salaün’s 13-point, 11-rebound double-double, Kalkbrenner’s 17 points, Sexton’s 14 points and five assists, Ball’s 10 points and six assists, and Knueppel’s 14 points.

This distribution is one of the most important aspects of Charlotte’s victory.

The Hornets did not require one player to score 35 or 40 points.

Instead, multiple players contributed enough to keep the offense balanced.

Denver Nuggets Player Statistics

Denver’s individual numbers were shaped by the difficult circumstances of the game.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 16 points.

Jalen Pickett recorded 12 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. His seven assists were the highest total for Denver in the game.

Julian Strawther also provided 15 points.

The Denver offense, however, struggled to generate consistent efficiency against Charlotte’s defense.

Jamal Murray

Murray entered the game having produced three consecutive 30-point performances, according to the official game recap.

Against Charlotte, he finished with 16 points.

That difference is important because Murray was unable to reproduce the scoring level that had recently made him one of Denver’s primary offensive engines.

The Hornets’ early defensive pressure and Denver’s limited lineup options made it difficult for Murray to carry the offense by himself.

Jalen Pickett

Pickett’s seven assists were a bright spot for Denver.

When a team is missing major offensive contributors, playmaking becomes even more important. Pickett’s passing helped Denver create opportunities, particularly as the game progressed.

He finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

His numbers demonstrate that Denver still had individual contributions despite the large deficit.

Julian Strawther

Strawther scored 15 points and was one of Denver’s more productive offensive players.

His fourth-quarter production helped Denver win the final period 30-23.

However, the late improvement did not materially change the outcome because Charlotte had already built such a large advantage.

This is why quarter-by-quarter statistics are valuable. A final box score can hide the timing of a team’s success.

Denver’s Shooting Problems

The biggest statistical problem for Denver was shooting efficiency.

The Nuggets finished 32-for-79 from the field.

That translated to approximately 40.5 percent shooting.

From three-point range, Denver went 8-for-38, or approximately 21.1 percent.

Charlotte, by comparison, shot 44-for-89, approximately 49.4 percent, and made 11 of 34 three-point attempts.

The difference from three-point range was especially important.

Denver attempted 38 three-pointers but converted only eight.

That created a difficult mathematical path to victory.

A team can survive a poor three-point night when it dominates inside, controls the offensive glass, or forces turnovers. Denver did not gain enough of those advantages to compensate.

Rebounding Was a Major Separator

The rebounding numbers are among the clearest indicators of Charlotte’s physical control.

Major statistical listings record:

• Charlotte: 61 rebounds
• Denver: 36 rebounds
• Charlotte offensive rebounds: 16
• Denver offensive rebounds: 8

That gave Charlotte 25 more total rebounds.

The Hornets also doubled Denver’s offensive-rebound total.

This matters because offensive rebounds create additional possessions.

A team that misses a shot but immediately recovers the ball can turn one failed possession into another scoring opportunity.

Charlotte repeatedly benefited from that type of possession advantage.

For readers analyzing individual statistics, this is where Salaün’s 11 rebounds become especially meaningful. His rebounding was part of a larger team trend rather than an isolated achievement.

Ball Movement Favored Charlotte

Charlotte recorded 30 assists compared with 21 for Denver.

The nine-assist difference provides another indication that the Hornets generated a more balanced offensive attack.

Charlotte’s 30 assists were spread across a roster that had several players capable of creating or finishing plays.

LaMelo Ball led the team with six assists.

Collin Sexton added five.

Kon Knueppel contributed three.

The Hornets’ ball movement helped produce efficient shooting without forcing one player to dominate every possession.

Denver’s 21 assists were respectable considering the lineup situation, but they were not enough to overcome the team’s shooting problems.

Turnovers and Possession Quality

Turnovers present a more complicated part of the statistical picture.

Denver committed fewer turnovers than Charlotte in the available statistical listings.

Denver had eight turnovers, while Charlotte had 13 in the detailed box score.

At first glance, that might appear to favor Denver.

However, turnover totals cannot be separated from shooting and rebounding.

Denver protected the ball reasonably well, but the Nuggets did not convert enough of their possessions into efficient scoring opportunities.

Charlotte compensated for its higher turnover count through superior shooting, rebounding, and overall offensive production.

This is an important analytical lesson: the team with fewer turnovers does not automatically control the game.

Free-Throw Efficiency

Both teams were efficient at the free-throw line.

Charlotte made 11 of 13 free throws, approximately 84.6 percent.

Denver made 15 of 18, approximately 83.3 percent.

Denver actually made four more free throws than Charlotte.

That statistic demonstrates why free throws were not the main explanation for the 23-point difference.

The larger separators were field-goal efficiency, three-point shooting, rebounding, and the enormous first-half scoring gap.

The First Half Explains the Game

If someone only looks at the final score, it is easy to assume Charlotte simply played well for 48 minutes.

The quarter scores tell a more precise story.

Charlotte led:

33-18 after one quarter

Then:

60-34 at halftime

Then:

87-57 after three quarters

Denver finally won the fourth quarter:

30-23

The final score was therefore heavily determined before the fourth period began.

Charlotte’s 53-34 scoring advantage over the first two quarters created a margin that Denver could not realistically erase.

This is one of the strongest examples of why quarter-level data should accompany player statistics.

What the Box Score Says About Charlotte’s Winning Formula

Several patterns stand out.

1. Efficient shooting

Charlotte shot roughly 49 percent from the field.

That gave the Hornets a strong foundation before accounting for other advantages.

2. Strong rebounding

The Hornets dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end.

3. Multiple scoring options

Miller led the team with 23, but Kalkbrenner, Sexton, Knueppel, Salaün, and Ball all contributed meaningful scoring.

4. Strong playmaking

Thirty team assists indicate that Charlotte consistently created opportunities for teammates.

5. Early defensive pressure

Holding Denver to 18 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second established the tone.

These factors worked together.

The victory was not simply a matter of one player having a big night.

What the Box Score Says About Denver’s Problems

Denver’s numbers reveal a different story.

The Nuggets struggled primarily with offensive efficiency.

The 21.1 percent three-point shooting was especially damaging.

Denver also finished with fewer rebounds and fewer assists than Charlotte.

The situation was made more difficult by the absence of several important scorers. The official NBA recap reported that Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, and Jonas Valanciunas were unavailable, with those five players combining for an average of 77.3 points per game.

That context is essential when evaluating the Nuggets’ individual statistics.

A box score tells you what happened.

The lineup information helps explain why it happened.

Why the 23-Point Margin Matters

A 23-point victory is substantial in any NBA game.

Here, the margin reflected a game that was effectively controlled from the beginning.

Charlotte led by 15 after one quarter and 26 at halftime. The Hornets later extended the advantage to as many as 33 points.

Denver’s fourth-quarter improvement prevented the margin from becoming even larger, but it did not change the overall character of the game.

For historical comparison, the result also represented a reversal from the earlier meeting between the teams.

Denver had beaten Charlotte 115-106 on December 8, 2025.

The January meeting therefore brought the season series level at 1-1.

Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats and Season Series

The two meetings produced very different results.

December 8, 2025

Denver defeated Charlotte 115-106.

January 19, 2026

Charlotte defeated Denver 110-87.

The season series ended tied 1-1.

That contrast is useful because it shows how dramatically a single matchup can change based on player availability, shooting performance, and game circumstances.

The first meeting was a nine-point Denver victory.

The second was a 23-point Charlotte victory.

That is a 32-point swing in the final margin between the two contests.

It does not mean the teams changed by 32 points as overall basketball teams. It demonstrates how matchup conditions can influence a single NBA game.

A Closer Look at Player Value

Traditional statistics remain useful, but the best way to interpret this game is to combine several categories.

Brandon Miller

Miller’s 23 points made him Charlotte’s leading scorer.

His 8-for-15 field-goal shooting and 4-for-9 three-point shooting show that the scoring came with strong efficiency.

Tidjane Salaün

Salaün’s 13 points and 11 rebounds gave Charlotte a double-double and strengthened its rebounding advantage.

Ryan Kalkbrenner

Kalkbrenner’s 17 points gave Charlotte important scoring from its interior rotation and helped reduce the pressure on Miller.

LaMelo Ball

Ball’s 10 points do not fully describe his contribution.

His six assists and three steals were important parts of the overall performance.

Jalen Pickett

Pickett’s seven assists were Denver’s best playmaking figure.

His five rebounds and 12 points added further value.

Jamal Murray

Murray’s 16 points led Denver in scoring, but his production was well below the 30-point level he had reached in his three previous games.

Together, these numbers show why player evaluation should not depend on points alone.

How to Read Player Stats From This Game

If you are using this matchup as a reference for NBA analysis, start with five questions.

Who led in scoring?

Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 23 points.

Jamal Murray led Denver with 16.

Who controlled the boards?

Charlotte had the clear team advantage, with the detailed box score recording 61 rebounds to Denver’s 36.

Who created the most shots for teammates?

LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with six assists, while Jalen Pickett led Denver with seven.

Which team shot better?

Charlotte had the better field-goal and three-point percentages.

When was the game decided?

The decisive period was the first half, when Charlotte built a 26-point advantage.

These questions provide a much stronger understanding of the game than simply listing the leading scorers.

The Importance of Context in NBA Player Statistics

Player statistics should always be read within game context.

For example, Denver’s fourth-quarter scoring improved substantially.

But that does not mean the Nuggets suddenly became the better-performing team.

The fourth quarter began with Charlotte holding a 30-point lead after the Hornets scored 27 points in the third while Denver scored 23.

Likewise, a player can record a modest scoring total in a blowout because his team does not need him to carry the offense.

This is why player statistics are most useful when combined with:

• Score margin
• Shooting efficiency
• Rebounding
• Assists
• Turnovers
• Player availability
• Quarter-by-quarter scoring
• Game situation

The January matchup provides a strong example of this principle.

Official Game Information

The game was played at Ball Arena in Denver.

Attendance was 19,971.

The officials were Sean Corbin, Leon Wood, and Josh Tiven.

The official NBA game page lists the contest as Charlotte’s 110-87 victory over Denver and provides the box score, game charts, and play-by-play information.

For readers who want to verify the complete official record, the NBA game page and box score are the most appropriate primary reference.

Key Statistical Takeaways

The most useful numbers from this matchup can be summarized as follows:

Category	Charlotte	Denver
Final Score	110	87
Field Goals	44/89	32/79
Field-Goal Percentage	49.4%	40.5%
Three-Pointers	11/34	8/38
Three-Point Percentage	32.4%	21.1%
Free Throws	11/13	15/18
Free-Throw Percentage	84.6%	83.3%
Rebounds	61	36
Assists	30	21
Steals	4	7
Blocks	3	5
Turnovers	13	8

The exact statistical presentation can vary slightly between third-party databases because of how team totals and possession statistics are recorded, so the official NBA game record should remain the primary reference when a discrepancy appears. The major statistical sources agree on the final score, shooting figures, assists, rebounds, and overall result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the leading scorer in the Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets game?

Brandon Miller led all Charlotte scorers with 23 points. Jamal Murray led Denver with 16 points.

Who had the most rebounds for Charlotte?

Tidjane Salaün led Charlotte with 11 rebounds and recorded a double-double with 13 points.

Who led the Denver Nuggets in assists?

Jalen Pickett led Denver with seven assists while also recording 12 points and five rebounds.

What was the final score?

Charlotte defeated Denver 110-87 at Ball Arena.

How many three-pointers did each team make?

Charlotte made 11 of 34 three-point attempts, while Denver made 8 of 38.

Did Charlotte win the season series?

No team won both meetings. Denver won the December 8 matchup 115-106, while Charlotte won the January 19 matchup 110-87, leaving the season series tied 1-1.

Conclusion

The charlotte hornets vs denver nuggets match player stats show that Charlotte’s 110-87 victory was built on a complete team performance rather than one isolated scoring display.

Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 23 points, while Tidjane Salaün supplied 13 points and 11 rebounds. Ryan Kalkbrenner added 17 points, and LaMelo Ball contributed six assists and three steals alongside his 10 points. Charlotte’s supporting cast gave the team enough scoring depth to avoid depending on a single offensive option.

The team statistics reinforce that picture. Charlotte shot close to 49 percent from the field, made 11 three-pointers, generated 30 assists, and controlled the rebounding battle. Denver, meanwhile, shot approximately 40 percent overall and only 21 percent from three-point range. The Nuggets did have positive individual contributions, especially from Jamal Murray and Jalen Pickett, but their overall offensive efficiency was not enough to overcome Charlotte’s early advantage.

The first half was ultimately the defining part of the contest. Charlotte scored 60 points before halftime while Denver scored 34. That 26-point gap created the foundation for the final result.

The game also provides a useful example of why NBA player statistics need context. Points are important, but rebounds, assists, shooting efficiency, defensive activity, lineup availability, and game situation all help explain what actually happened on the court.

For this matchup, the numbers tell a clear story: Charlotte won the shooting battle, dominated the glass, moved the ball effectively, and established control before Denver could respond. The result tied the season series at 1-1 after Denver had won the earlier meeting in December.