Nuggets at Rockets: In top-three West showdown, Houston looks for 10th straight win
HOUSTON -- After nine straight victories, the Rockets (46-25) are the talk of the NBA in March 2025. That league-leading streak has lifted Houston from No. 5 to No. 2 in the Western Conference standings.
But one cautionary note is that all nine teams during this streak have had losing records. That changes Sunday, when No. 3 Denver (44-27) visits Toyota Center for a matchup of West contenders.
However, the Nuggets might not be quite as formidable as usual, since superstar center Nikola Jokic remains sidelined by a left ankle injury.
Sunday's game would allow the Rockets to clinch a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Nuggets, which could be important in the standings race. Houston and Denver play three times, and the Rockets already won the previous meeting in January.
Thus, a victory on Sunday would clinch the season series for the Rockets, and it would extend Houston's lead to three games plus the tiebreaker. With a loss, Denver would close to within a single game, and the tiebreaker would come down to the subsequent result on April 13 — the regular-season finale for both teams.
Read on for highlights, statistics, interview tidbits, and real-time reaction.
Strategic Rest, Limited Tactics in Playoff Preview Games?
Ime Udoka said the Rockets have talked about strategically resting players and hiding tactics from teams they might play in the playoffs in the last 11 games. But stressed that the top priority is winning.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) March 23, 2025
Sounds like Tari Eason & Steven Adams won’t play both games of the b2b.
Rockets Pulling Away for West’s No. 2 Seed
If Houston can defeat Denver, the Rockets would have a buffer of at least 2.5 games over all other teams competing for the West's No. 2 seed in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
After Sunday, the Rockets will have only 10 games left to play in the 2024-25 regular season, making a lead of that size potentially significant.
The Rockets are creating separation for the 2nd seed in the West. pic.twitter.com/ElyWCm5FzU
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) March 23, 2025
As for a potential tiebreaker against the Lakers, Houston has a 1-0 lead with two head-to-head matchups left to play. The Rockets would win the tiebreaker unless Los Angeles wins both of those meetings.
The Rockets already have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Memphis, and they would clinch it over Denver with a win Sunday or in the regular-season finale on April 13. Both meetings are in Houston.
Game and Broadcast Information
- Date: Sunday, March 23
- Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
- Location: Toyota Center, Houston
- Channel: Space City Home Network
- Stream: Fubo TV in local markets (free trial), NBA League Pass nationally
Team Rankings
Statistical rankings among the NBA's 30 teams, as of Sunday:
- Houston: No. 5 net rating (4.7), No. 12 offensive rating (114.2), No. 3 defensive rating (109.5)
- Denver: No. 8 net rating (3.8), No. 4 offensive rating (118.8), No. 21 defensive rating (115.0)
Starting Lineups
Rockets:
- Fred VanVleet, No. 5, guard
- Jalen Green, No. 4, guard
- Dillon Brooks, No. 9, forward
- Amen Thompson, No. 1, forward
- Alperen Sengun, No. 28, center
Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray, No. 27, guard
- Christian Braun, No. 0, guard
- Michael Porter Jr., No. 1, forward
- Aaron Gordon, No. 32, forward
- DeAndre Jordan, No. 6, center
Player Absences
Rockets:
- Reed Sheppard, right thumb avulsion injury
- David Roddy, G League (two-way)
- N'Faly Dante, G League (two-way)
- Jack McVeigh, G League (two-way)
- Nate Williams, G League (on assignment)
Nuggets:
- Nikola Jokic, out, left ankle impingement
- Julian Strawther, out, left knee sprain
- Daron Holmes II, out, right Achilles tendon repair
Homestand Begins
After playing a pair of road games in Florida, the Rockets are back in Houston for two games to start this week. The opener is Sunday's game versus Denver, while the finale is Tuesday's matchup versus Atlanta. Houston is 26-10 at home this season and 9-1 since February's All-Star break.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Nuggets at Rockets: In West showdown, Houston eyes 10th straight win
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