Rockets Visit Denver, Seek Third Straight Win Over Nuggets
Mile-High Challenge. Wounded Unit. Whitmore Time?
Houston limps into the Mile-High City for the first time this season, as they meet the Denver Nuggets. The Rockets have already beaten Denver twice this season, albeit both those matches were in Houston. Tonight’s contest presents a different sort of challenge for these Rockets… a truly Mile-High Challenge. It’s always difficult to play in the Rocky Mountain altitude of Denver, and this season is no different. The Nuggets haven’t lost a home game all season, while the Rockets haven’t won a road game all season. Denver is also the defending champions, and they have a plethora of pride. they don’t want to lost to Houston three times in a row. The Nuggets rested Nikola Jokic in their previous win over the Clippers, to ensure he was ready to finally take on Alperen Sengun and the Rockets, who have had Denver’s number this season.
Unfortunately, Houston enters tonight’s tilt a bit shorthanded. Fred VanVleet and Jae’Sean Tate are out with injuries, and Tari Eason is questionable. That’s a lot of leadership and hustle the Rockets will be missing on the court tonight. It’s time for everyone else on the roster to step up and seize their added opportunities tonight. Amen Thompson is still out with his injury, and will join the G-League first to get some reps in before he returns to the squad. So, is now a good time to finally see some action from Cam Whitmore? Oh, and to make matters worse for Houston, Jamal Murray makes his return tonight after missing nearly a month with an injury. Denver’s second best player will certainly ignite the home crowd upon his return to the lineup.
The man who was heralded as the steal of the draft has been playing in the G-League, but he’s ready to go, as evidence by his dominant play in the NBA’s “minor league.” A main reason he was sent to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers was because his position is the most crowded on this Houston roster. With all these absences, there’s finally room for him to show his talents and progression to this coaching staff. Will Coach Ime Udoka give him a chance in a game the Rockets are very unlikely to win? We’ll find out tonight, as the bruised and battered Rockets battle the restored and healthy defending champion Denver Nuggets in their house, where they haven’t lost in eight games played at Ball Arena this season. Houston faces their toughest challenge so far this year, with a chance to still pull off the season’s biggest upset yet.
Ball Arena: Denver, Colorado
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (8-7): Black
Denver Nuggets (12-6): White
Tip-Off: 8:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass