After a loss against the San Antonio Spurs last Monday at home, the Denver Nuggets went on the road for a three-game road trip against three Eastern Conference teams. The hope? A perfect road trip before a small break in the schedule.

Mission accomplished.

The Nuggets put together a workmanlike 115-106 victory tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, locking in on the defensive end after a slow first quarter.

The Hornets were missing a variety of players like LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, and Moussa Diabate that have given Denver trouble in the past, and that made it easier to focus on the wing trio of Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and rookie Kon Knueppel.

None of the three had an especially efficient game, and that made it easier to focus on protecting the paint and allow some open threes to role players. Charlotte got hot in the first quarter but slowed down after that.

Offensively, Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 34 points and five assists. Murray got hot in the first quarter and finished with an astounding 23 points in the first period. He had just 11 of the rest of the way, but that start caused the Hornets to guard him with a level of desperation, leading to better opportunities for Nikola Jokic and others.

Murray ultimately finished 14-of-25 from the field after a scalding 10-of-13 start, but it was still a tremendous overall performance. Murray also had zero turnovers despite handling the ball as much as he did.

Jokic started slow as a scorer with Murray getting so many of the early possessions, but he found his rhythm in the second quarter onward. Jokic finished the game with 28 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists while shooting 11-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from three.

Jokic’s defense was also solid in this one, hedging on the perimeter well to help Denver’s perimeter defense. His center counterparts Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mason Plumlee combining for just 10 points overall as well.

Around Murray and Jokic, the Nuggets got contributions across the board.

Tim Hardaway Jr. led all other scorers with an efficient 14 points, marking his seventh straight double-digit scoring performance. The trio of Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, and Cam Johnson scrambled nicely on the perimeter and rotating under the basket to help the defensive effort. Jonas Valanciunas had some nice scoring plays and a great dime to a cutting Jalen Pickett, who played backup point guard today and did reasonably well.

This wasn’t Denver’s most efficient or effective performance, but it was in fact a very normal road win. The Hornets made a run every now and then, and the Nuggets often responded in kind.

Jokic shot a leaning runner to end the third quarter and banked in a three in the fourth quarter that drained momentum from the Hornets. Murray’s poise continues to give the opposition an extra layer of fear. Hardaway’s shooting continues to impress.

Now, the Nuggets have won a franchise record 10 road games in a row. They’re tied for their best start in franchise history at 17-6. Despite injuries to Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Julian Strawther, the Nuggets are finding ways to win on the road, and they continue to rise to the occasion and do what’s needed every night.

Eventually, Denver will have to figure out what’s going on at home, but that’s for another day. For now, the Nuggets have earned a good rest. That was an impressive road trip overall, and it’s helped the Nuggets keep pace in the ever crowded Western Conference playoff picture.

The next game is on Thursday, an added matchup after the NBA Cup schedule was finalized. Denver will go back on the road on Thursday vs the Sacramento Kings before playing the Houston Rockets at home next Monday. A low maintenance schedule to help the Nuggets catch their breath a bit.