The Denver Nuggets are back at it again this evening for the final game of their road trip, and they’re going to have to do it without Nikola Jokic.
Surely, they won’t be facing a team that hasn’t won nine games in a row…right?
Let’s delve into the Houston Rockets matchup:
Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets
Projected Starting Lineups
Denver: Russell Westbrook, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon
Houston: Fred Van Vleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun
Key Bench Players
Denver: Jalen Pickett, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji, Hunter Tyson, Vlatko Cancar, Spencer Jones?!
Houston: Aaron Holiday, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams
Notable Injuries
Denver: Nikola Jokic – OUT, Jamal Murray – PROBABLE, Aaron Gordon – PROBABLE, Christian Braun – PROBABLE, Julian Strawther – OUT, DaRon Holmes II – OUT
Houston: Reed Shephard – OUT
Key for the Nuggets – Take Care of the basketball
On this three-game road trip without Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have committed 22 turnovers against the Golden State Warriors, 19 turnovers against the Los Angeles Lakers, and 21 turnovers against the Portland Trail Blazers. They’re 1-2 in part because they can’t stop giving up the ball. Russell Westbrook is averaged 6.3 turnovers per game on this trip. Aaron Gordon is at 4.0 per game. Christian Braun is at 2.5 per game. Jamal Murray committed three in his return on Friday night.
If the Nuggets are going to turn this ship around, they have to stop making it more difficult to score than it already is and play a clean game. Nikola Jokic is out again, so Denver must be even more diligent about ball security off the dribble.
Important Matchup – Jalen Green vs Jamal Murray
It’s a pretty simple dynamic here: Jalen Green demolished the Nuggets the last time these two teams met to the tune of 34 points and five assists compared to one turnover on just 16 shot attempts. He was elite, and the Nuggets have had consistent issues staying in front of elite guards this year. And elite wings. And elite forwards. And elite bigs.
Can they guard Jalen Green? Can Jamal Murray guard either Green or Fred VanVleet? The Rockets point guard is coming off a 37-point performance, so Murray will have to step up and guard somebody despite being hobbled with an ankle injury. Oh, and he has to also score and play make efficiently on the other end against a top five defense with Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks.
Number of the Day – 28
There have been 28 total games when the Nuggets have maintained a 112 Defensive Rating or better, according to NBA.com. 112 is the threshold for “Top 10” among defenses this year. If you’re better than 112 from game to game, you’re doing pretty well.
Denver’s had a 112 Defensive Rating in just 39% of their games this year. That’s not good enough. When they DO it though, their record in those 28 games is 25-3. The only games they HAVEN’T won: opening night vs Oklahoma City and two games in the middle of November without Nikola Jokic.
Nugget who should have a good game: Aaron Gordon
Let’s stick with what we know. Aaron Gordon is averaging 29.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on this road trip while maintaining a preposterous 61.7 FG%, 55.6 3P%, and 86.4 FT%. That’s incredible, and while the Rockets will most certainly be keying in on him a bit more, the Nuggets will continue to ride the hot hand. Perhaps the only bright spot for the Nuggets across these three games outside of 20+ minutes of Spencer Jones.
What to Watch for in Denver Nuggets vs Houston Rockets Mile High Sports.
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