The Denver Nuggets (18-6), fresh off a dominant 4-0 road trip, return home to Ball Arena for a pivotal Northwest Division showdown against the surging Houston Rockets (16-6) on Monday night. Both teams sit atop the Western Conference—Denver in second, Houston third—making this a potential playoff preview with massive implications for seeding. Without key pieces like Fred VanVleet and Aaron Gordon, the battle will center on Nikola Jokić’s mastery against Alperen Şengün’s interior presence, while altitude could test Houston’s depth. Expect a chess match in the half-court, with Denver’s spacing clashing against the Rockets’ athleticism. Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. ET, streaming exclusively on Peacock with local coverage on Altitude Sports (ALT) and SportsNet Southwest Houston (SCHN).
Venue Location
Ball Arena
1000 Chopper Circle
Denver, CO 80204
The Nuggets’ high-altitude fortress (5,280 feet above sea level) seats 18,000 for NBA games and has been a house of horrors for visitors, where Denver boasts a 6-4 home record this season. The thin air often leads to fatigue in the fourth quarter, amplifying Jokić’s endurance edge—opponents are 2-8 ATS in Denver’s last 10 home games.
Tipoff: 9:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: Peacock (national streaming exclusive), ALT (Nuggets local), SCHN (Rockets local)
Injury Report
Injuries hit both squads hard, with Houston’s backcourt decimated by VanVleet’s season-ending ACL tear and Denver missing Gordon’s versatility. The official NBA injury report (as of 12:30 p.m. ET) underscores the frontcourt focus:
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Reason | Estimated Return |
| Rockets | Tari Eason | Questionable | Right Oblique; Strain | Day-to-Day |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | Out | Left Ankle; Surgery | Jan 10, 2026 | |
| Fred VanVleet | Out | Right Knee; ACL Repair | April 2026 | |
| Nuggets | Christian Braun | Out | Left Ankle; Sprain | Dec 20 |
| Aaron Gordon | Out | Right Hamstring; Strain | Dec 22 | |
| Julian Strawther | Questionable | Lower Back; Injury Management | Day-to-Day | |
| Tamar Bates | Out | G League – Two-Way | TBD | |
| Curtis Jones | Out | G League – Two-Way | TBD | |
| DaRon Holmes II | Out | G League – On Assignment | TBD |
VanVleet’s absence (18.2 PPG, 8.1 APG) forces more creation from Jalen Green and Amen Thompson, while Gordon’s nine-game miss (14.5 PPG) thins Denver’s wings. Eason’s status is crucial for Houston’s bench energy.
Key Player Matchups
With VanVleet out, Houston leans on youth and athleticism to counter Denver’s surgical offense. Jokić’s triple-double threat will dominate, but the Rockets’ length could disrupt Murray’s rhythm. Top head-to-heads:
Nikola Jokić (DEN C) vs. Alperen Şengün (HOU C)
Jokić (29.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 10.9 APG—league-leading in REB/APG) orchestrates with vision and touch, facing Şengün (23.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 7.0 APG). Şengün’s post moves (49.9% FG) test Jokić’s help D (1.4 SPG). Edge: Jokić—his 40-point near-triple-double vs. Atlanta last week highlights unmatched efficiency; he’s 8-2 in last 10 vs. Houston.
Jamal Murray (DEN PG) vs. Amen Thompson (HOU SG/SF)
Murray (24.4 PPG, 50.0% FG, 44.2% 3PT—career highs) thrives in pick-and-rolls, matched against Thompson (17.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.4 SPG). Thompson’s length (7’0″ wingspan) disrupts drives. Edge: Murray—52-point explosion vs. Indiana shows his ceiling, but Thompson’s 31 vs. Phoenix could force rotations.
Kevin Durant (HOU SF) vs. Michael Porter Jr. (DEN SF)
Durant (24.8 PPG, 49.9% FG, 39.6% 3PT) exploits mismatches with pull-ups, facing Porter Jr. (18.7 PPG, 41% 3PT). Porter’s size contests from deep. Edge: Durant—28 points to hit 31K milestone vs. Suns; he’s cleared 25+ in 7 of 10 December games.
Jalen Green (HOU SG) vs. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DEN SG)
Green (19.2 PPG, stepping up sans VanVleet) attacks seams, vs. KCP’s elite perimeter D (1.6 SPG). Edge: Green—expect volume scoring in altitude, but KCP’s 70% cover rate on assignments favors Denver.
Bonus Prop Watch: Jokić Over 12.5 Rebounds (-115) and Şengün Over 21.5 Points (-102) are value plays, hitting in 75% of matchups.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away | Division | Conference | Streak |
| Rockets | 16-6 | 8-2 Home / 8-4 Away | 4-1 | 12-4 | W1 |
| Nuggets | 18-6 | 6-4 Home / 12-2 Away | 4-1 | 13-3 | W4 |
Denver leads the West with a +8.2 net rating (3rd league-wide), excelling in assists (30.1 APG). Houston ranks 5th in scoring (118.4 PPG) but drops to 112.6 without VanVleet.
Recent Team Forms
Denver’s road dominance (11 straight wins away) contrasts Houston’s resilience post-injuries. The Nuggets’ offense hums (52.8% eFG last five), while Rockets force turnovers (15.2 per game).
Houston Rockets Last 5 Games (3-2):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 11 | vs. LAC | W 115-113 | Thompson: 25 PTS, 8 REB; Clutch 3-pt play |
| Dec 6 | @ DAL | L 109-122 | Durant: 27 PTS; 44% FG team |
| Dec 5 | vs. PHX | W 117-98 | Thompson: 31 PTS; Durant: 28 PTS (31K milestone) |
| Dec 3 | vs. SAC | W 121-95 | Şengün: 28 PTS, 12 REB; +26 rebound edge |
| Dec 1 | @ UTA | L 125-133 | Green: 29 PTS; 29% 3PT team |
Denver Nuggets Last 5 Games (4-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 12 | @ SAC | W 136-105 | Jokić: 36 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST; 35 team AST |
| Dec 8 | @ CHA | W 115-106 | Murray: 34 PTS; Jokić: Triple-double threat |
| Dec 6 | @ ATL | W 134-133 | Jokić: 40 PTS, 9 REB; 23-pt comeback |
| Dec 4 | @ IND | W 135-120 | Murray: 52 PTS; 60% 3PT team |
| Dec 1 | vs. DAL | L 121-131 | Jokić: 32 PTS, 14 REB; Rare home loss |
Averages: Rockets 116.4 PPG scored (last five), Nuggets 122.4 PPG allowed on road trips.
Series History
All-time, Houston edges Denver 107-101 in regular-season meetings, but the Nuggets own recent playoff dominance (4-2 in 2020 WCF). Since 2020, Denver is 9-5 vs. Houston.
This season (2025-26): Nuggets lead 1-0
Nov 21, 2025: Nuggets 112-109 @ Rockets (Jokić: 28 PTS, 11 REB; thriller decided by Durant’s missed FT)
Denver has won 3 of the last 4 head-to-heads, covering in 60%. Games average 224.8 total points (Under in 7 of 10), with Nuggets +4.2 scoring margin.
Betting Trends
Key Trends:
Rockets: 12-10 ATS overall; 8-4 ATS away; Over in 13 of 22 (59.1%); 7-3 SU in last 10.
Nuggets: 14-10 ATS; 12-2 SU away but 2-4 SU at home lately; Under in 6 of last 10 (avg. 228.4 points); 55% win rate as -120 favorites.
Head-to-Head: Nuggets 3-2 SU last 5; Under in 7 of 10; Houston 2-1 ATS in Denver since 2024.
Game Odds
Houston Rockets 236.5
Denver Nuggets – 1.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 14, 2025
