DENVER _ The Charlotte Hornets just can't string together four victories this season.
They appeared to be building momentum, recovering from a 21-point deficit Sunday against the Phoenix Suns for a third consecutive victory. But Monday, the Denver Nuggets beat them primarily along the 3-point line, 121-104 at Pepsi Center.
The Nuggets (29-25) made 18 of 31 3-pointers over the first three quarters to lead 97-84 entering the final period. Never this season have the Hornets (23-30) won more than three consecutive games.
Hornets center Dwight Howard (19 points) had a big first half, but his Nuggets counterpart, Nikola Jokic (15 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists), took command of the match-up in the third quarter with 10 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Nuggets guard Gary Harris scored 15 of his 27 points in the first quarter, as Denver took a 14-point first-half lead.
Hornets point guard Kemba Walker scored 20 points, making three of his six attempts from 3-point range a night after becoming the Hornets' career leader for 3s made.
This was the second of a four-game West Coast trip for the Hornets. They play at the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday before facing the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Friday night.
