It was less than two weeks ago when the Rockets defeated perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center. Now, 12 days later, Houston will attempt to do it again from the same building. The rematch also counts toward the league’s 2023-24 in-season tournament standings.
Both the Rockets (1-1) and Nuggets (2-1) already have an in-season tournament loss, so each likely needs a win to have hopes of advancing to the eight-team quarterfinals in early December.
Some good news for the Rockets is that Jamal Murray, Denver’s star point guard, remains sidelined by a hamstring injury. His absence, coupled with Houston’s top-five defense, could give Ime Udoka’s group a chance to primarily focus its strengths on slowing Jokic.
On offense, the Rockets are hoping that Jalen Green — who scored 34 points in Wednesday’s win, with 26 in the second half alone — continues his sudden surge. Houston went 0-3 in its previous road trip, and Green’s struggles were particularly harmful.
Another reason for optimism could be location. For the season, the Rockets are 7-1 at home, while they are 0-5 away from Toyota Center.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Friday, Nov. 24
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (7-6)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Denver Nuggets (10-5)
- Guard: Reggie Jackson
- Guard: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Forward: Michael Porter Jr.
- Forward: Aaron Gordon
- Center: Nikola Jokic
Projected lineups are based on each team’s latest game.
Injury reports
Houston’s Nov. 24 injury report lists Amen Thompson (right ankle sprain) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out. Cam Whitmore, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Hinton are on assignment with Houston’s G League club, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers.
For Friday’s game, the Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray (right hamstring strain) and Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery).
Nov. 24 uniform choices
- Rockets: White City Edition
- Nuggets: Blue Icon Edition
