Denver Nuggets go face Houston Rockets for Toyota Center, Houston, as dem dey chase third straight win for di season. Na di first time di two teams go meet dis season, and di game carry weight for Western Conference. Nuggets dey 5-3, while Rockets dey 7-3, but Houston don lose two games in a row and dem go wan stop di slide for home.
Denver dey come from 114-102 win over Indiana Pacers for di NBA Mexico City Game. Nuggets defense hold Pacers to 86.0 offensive rating for half-court, and Spencer Jones shine for him season debut with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, 3-for-3 from distance and six rebounds. Denver bin plus-14 when Jones dey court, na team-high.
But injury worry dey hang over di Nuggets. Dem list di whole starting five—Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić—as questionable. Jamal Murray get left shin/tibia contusion, Nikola Jokić get right elbow sprain, Christian Braun dey deal with left calf contusion/illness, while Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson dey on lower body injury management. DeMar DeRozan also questionable with low back spasms, and e no clear if e go play. Julian Strawther out with left knee sprain.
Houston side no dey full strength too. Steven Adam out with right soleus strain, Clint Capela out with right ankle sprain, while Quadir Copeland and Julian Phillips no available because of G League two-way assignments. Di Nuggets also talk say travel to Houston from international game bring complications, so coach and players go need manage di situation before tip-off.
