LaMelo Ball, Hornets strive to end western trip with win vs. Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets hit a softer spot in their home schedule this weekend that projected as back-to-back wins, but that potential outcome nearly hit a snag Saturday night against the struggling Washington Wizards.

Less than 24 hours later, the Nuggets will face another Eastern Conference team with a losing record when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.

Both teams are playing for the second time in as many nights; Charlotte lost at the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. The Hornets will wrap up their five-game Western Conference road swing against the Nuggets, and with victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz, they have a chance to finish the trip with a winning record.

LaMelo Ball has been a catalyst on this trip, averaging 21.8 points a game, including a 30-point, 11-assist performance in the 135-117 win over the Lakers on Thursday night.

"He's always been an explosive scorer, explosive passer, but now he knows how to win games when it comes down to, what, two possessions, one possession," Hornets guard Miles Bridges said. "He knows how to make the right play and win the game."

Ball leads Charlotte in scoring (20.2 points a game) and assists (7.6). He is averaging 20.0 points in January, helping the Hornets start the month 4-5 after a 5-8 December.

Including Ball, Charlotte has five players averaging in double digits in scoring. Bridges is second at 19.7, Brandon Miller is third at 19.4 points, Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 and Collin Sexton is scoring 14.9 points.

Denver squeaked out a 121-115 win against Washington for its fourth victory in a row and sixth in the past seven games. The Nuggets, despite playing without Nikola Jokic (left knee), Cameron Johnson (right knee) and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf) and Christian Braun playing just three of the last 31 games, are tied for second in the Western Conference (29-13).

Aaron Gordon missed just over a month with a calf strain but has played well since returning Jan. 4. Denver coach David Adelman has tried to be careful with Gordon's playing time, which could mean sitting him against Charlotte after an 11-assist, 10-rebound effort against the Wizards.

Gordon did play back-to-back nights at New Orleans and Dallas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Selfishly, I'd love to play him all the time," Adelman said. "There was a process too, there was some doubt that he was going to play the second game (against Dallas), but the way he tested the next morning allowed us to play him the second game. That will be the same thing for this one."

Adelman will have Jamal Murray, who is averaging 25.8 points a game and 30.2 in January. He had 42 in the win on Saturday, the third time this season he has 42 or more. Gordon is averaging 18.0 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. (14.2) and Peyton Watson (14.0) are scoring in double figures per game.

The collective effort has helped the team as they strive to replace Jokic's 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists a game.