Hornets-Nuggets Lines Preview

The New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Pepsi Center in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. Oddsmakers currently have the Nuggets listed as 6-point favorites versus the Hornets, while the game's total is sitting at 194. David West had a team-high 34 points in the Hornets' 105-98 overtime loss to the Spurs on Wednesday night. The Spurs failed to cover the 9-point spread at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (176). The Nuggets were pounded 104-76 by the Trail Blazers last time out, as 7.5-point underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 199. Nene Hilario had 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Team records: New Orleans: 49-33 SU, 35-45-2 ATS Denver: 54-28 SU, 45-36-1 ATS New Orleans most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Denver are 8-2 After playing San Antonio are 5-5 After a loss are 5-5 Denver most recently: When playing on Sunday are 6-4 Before playing New Orleans are 6-4 After playing Portland are 6-4 After a loss are 5-5 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games on the road New Orleans is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Denver The total has gone UNDER in 14 of New Orleans's last 19 games New Orleans is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home Denver is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games Denver is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Denver's last 12 games Next up: New Orleans at Denver, Wednesday, April 22 Denver home to New Orleans, Wednesday, April 22