Rockets Limp into Denver, Face Mountainous Task in Tilt with Nuggets
Dirtiest Dozen. Who’s In or Who’s Out? Mission Impossible.
Houston travels to the Mile High City on Saturday nigh for a task higher than a mile, with a matchup with the Denver Nuggets in store. It’s the second of a back-to-back for the Rockets, which means, since he played last night, no John Wall tonight for Houston. And he’s by far not the only Rockets player who’ll be sidelined on Saturday night. Houston will also be without Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., Danuel House… actually, with all the injuries, might as well just announce who’s playing rather than who will be on the sidelines.
Available tonight for the Rockets are: Jae’Sean Tate, Kelly Olynyk, Armoni Brooks, K.J. Martin, D.J. Wilson, and introducing… DaQuan Jeffries. Denver did suffer a setback in their latest outing, losing Will Barton to an injury, but it’s nothing compared to the battery Houston’s absorbed this season. Without Wood, Olynyk will need as much help as possible on MVP-candidate Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets superstar center who’s having the best season of his career.
So, it’s pretty much Mission Impossible tonight for the Rockets. It’s the first game of a brutal dozen matches to finish the season for Houston, eleven of which are against legitmate playoff contenders. as for tonight, one can only pray the Rockets play their hearts out, and hope the guys suiting up are on fire shooting the basketball. Otherwise, Houston is entering a mountain they can’t possibly climb. But, if there’s any season the Rockets could win a game like this, it might be this one. Nuggets Coach Mike Malone even admitted his team has a tendency to overlook hampered teams and play down to their competition at times. Houston has to take advantage if Denver comes out sleepwalking tonight. It’s been a weird NBA season, for obvious reasons. Regardless, the Rockets have to prep for the league’s version of Mount Everest tonight… get ready for the climb.
Ball Arena: Denver, Colorado
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (15-45): White
Denver Nuggets (38-21): Blue
TV: 9 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass