November 8, 2026 at 4:27 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Rockets' Frontcourt Hole Meets a Slumping Jokić

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Houston's missing centers give Denver an opening, but Nikola Jokić's rough start keeps the Rockets slightly ahead.

This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.

The central question in Houston is who guards Nikola Jokić. Steven Adams (calf, week-to-week) and Clint Capela (ankle) are both out, which leaves the Rockets without a proven big man to match up with him. Houston's rebounding also dropped when Adams was hurt last season, so the glass is a real concern. Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. will have to carry the frontcourt, and Smith's 14 points and 10 rebounds against Boston show he can contribute there.

Still, Denver arrives with its own problems. Jokić is off to the worst start of his prime, shooting 50.4% overall and a career-low 21.9% from three. His 26.1 PER is his lowest since his rookie season. A star of his caliber can still punish a thin frontline, but his shaky efficiency has made the Nuggets less dependable. At 5-3, they have been mediocre and are still looking for a statement win over top competition. Julian Strawther's absence with a knee injury trims their depth slightly, though he is a minor rotation piece.

Houston is 7-2 but has cooled since a 5-0 start, going 2-2 in its last four. One of those losses came at home to a shorthanded Minnesota team. The Rockets still have Şengün, who leads them at 22.4 points per game and had 26 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in the win over Boston. His playmaking from the post may be the best way to offset Houston's lack of size.

This looks like a close game decided by the Rockets' interior defense and rebounding. Denver will get its looks inside, but Houston's better record and Şengün's creation should be enough at home. I'm taking the Rockets in a tight one, 113-109.

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