The Houston Rockets (40-24) visit the Denver Nuggets (39-26) on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET in a matchup that could tighten the Western Conference playoff race. Houston holds a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves for third place, while Denver trails by 1.5 games. A Nuggets victory combined with a Timberwolves loss would leave four teams separated by just a half game.
The game at Ball Arena highlights a congested Western Conference standings, where five teams vie for the final four automatic playoff spots, separated by 2.5 games. Houston has won six of its last nine games, including a 115-101 road win over Denver on December 20 that snapped a four-game losing streak in the series. The Rockets are 1-2 against the Nuggets this season, with both losses by three points.
Denver has struggled recently, dropping four of its last six contests. The teams have met six times this season, with Houston winning two, three of those losses by fewer than six points. The Nuggets aim to close the gap on Houston, which sits third, while Denver occupies fourth.
A win for Denver and a loss by the Timberwolves to the Clippers later Wednesday would create a tight battle for third, with the idle Phoenix Suns also within two games of Houston. Houston has been competitive on the road, while Denver's home record stands at 17-13 overall.
Projections suggest a close contest, given the history of tight games between these teams. Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets has averaged 22.3 points plus rebounds this season, totaling at least 26 in each of his three meetings with Denver.
