Houston RocketsOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Denver defeated Houston 128–125 at Ball Arena on December 15, a defensive slugfest that finished three points below the Vegas total of 236.5. Nikola Jokić led the Nuggets with 39 points while Jamal Murray added 35, combining for 74 of Denver's output as the home team shot 50.6 percent from the field and connected on 15 three-pointers. The Rockets countered with Alperen Şengün's 33 points and Kevin Durant's 25, though Houston's 16 turnovers proved costly despite shooting an identical 50.5 percent and grabbing 46 rebounds to Denver's 38. Denver's defense held firm down the stretch, posting a 124.9 offensive rating against Houston's 115.3, while the Rockets' third-quarter explosion—35 points—couldn't overcome their fourth-quarter collapse when they managed just 31 points. Both teams played sloppy basketball with a combined 26 turnovers, but Denver's balanced assist attack of 24 to Houston's 29 reflected disciplined execution when it mattered most. The Nuggets remain well-positioned in the Western Conference race, while Houston's narrow defeat underscores the consistency required against elite competition.
