The Houston Rockets have already beaten the defending NBA champion Nuggets twice this season. The third meeting, however, is in Denver and it comes on night two of a road back-to-back.
Unlike the first two meetings, it appears Denver could have star point guard Jamal Murray back in its lineup after missing multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. Given the length of his absence, it would seem likely that Murray has some sort of minutes restriction.
The Rockets will play Wednesday’s game at altitude and in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s tough loss at Dallas, which eliminated Houston from the NBA’s 2023-24 in-season tournament.
Second-year forward Tari Eason, who suffered a stress reaction to his left lower leg in the preseason, hasn’t yet played in a back-to-back sequence of games. However, that appears poised to change based on recent reporting, and potentially as soon as this week.
Asked Sengun if he’s ready for Jokic tomorrow.
“I’m ready for him, always.”
🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) November 29, 2023
When and How to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, Nov. 29
- Time: 8:00 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 (8-7)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Denver Nuggets (12-6)
- Guard: Reggie Jackson (or Jamal Murray, if he returns)
- Guard: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Forward: Michael Porter Jr.
- Forward: Aaron Gordon
- Center: Nikola Jokic
Projected lineups are based on Saturday’s Rockets-Nuggets game.
Injury reports
Houston’s Nov. 28 injury report, which was the team’s most recent as of publication time, listed Amen Thompson (right ankle sprain) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) as out.
Dillon Brooks (left adductor tendinopathy), Fred VanVleet (left thumb sprain), Jae’Sean Tate (left knee soreness) and Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) were all listed as probable.
The Nuggets will be without Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery). Jamal Murray (right hamstring strain), Nikola Jokic (low back pain), Aaron Gordon (right heel strain), and Hunter Tyson (illness) are all listed as questionable, while Peyton Watson (illness) is probable.
Editor’s note: In a pregame update, the Rockets announced that VanVleet and Tate would not play, likely due to the back-to-back.
Fred VanVleet (thumb) and Jae’Sean Tate (knee) are both out tonight in Denver on night two of a back-to-back. Tari Eason (lower leg) is questionable. #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) November 29, 2023
Nov. 29 uniform choices
- Rockets: Black Statement Edition
- Nuggets: White Association Edition
Latest interviews
Dallas outscores the #Rockets 37-27 in the 4th quarter as Houston falls to the Mavs 121-115@HoustonRockets back in action tomorrow at Denver pic.twitter.com/YxJVmxbgZB
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) November 29, 2023
