Houston Rockets vs Denver Nuggets Prediction - 12/15/2025
Updated July 9, 2026
Monday’s Western Conference matchup between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets features star power on both sides. Both teams are in the top three in the Western Conference going into this contest from Denver's Ball Arena. The Nuggets are a slim favorite and will hope that Nikola Jokic can lead them to a win over Kevin Durant and the Rockets. Before tip-off in this huge game out West, continue reading to get my Rockets vs Nuggets prediction.
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Denver enters this contest looking to extend its current four-game win streak. The Nuggets are coming off a dominant road performance where Nikola Jokic posted 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists while the Nuggets shot efficiently against Sacramento. Jokic remains the engine of Denver’s offense, averaging nearly 30 points and 11 assists per game for the season. Jamal Murray has also picked things up of late and looks like the player we saw in the 2020 playoff bubble.
However, Denver’s depth has been tested due to injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Gordon’s absence removes a significant scoring and defensive presence on the wing, while Braun’s continued absence tightens up Denver's rotation. Julian Strawther is listed as day-to-day, which could further impact Denver’s perimeter options.
The Rockets have their own injury considerations to worry about. Fred VanVleet remains out for the season with an ACL tear, and Dorian Finney-Smith is sidelined with an ankle issue. Tari Eason is questionable heading into this game. Houston’s core still revolves around Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, who both deliver high usage and efficient scoring. The Rockets have won three of their last four games going into this high-profile matchup.
Player | Prop |
|---|---|
Nikola Jokic | Triple-double |
Kevin Durant | Over 24.5 Points |
Jamal Murray | Over 2.5 Three Pointers |
Alperen Sengun | Over 8.5 Rebounds |
Score Projection: Rockets 118 – Nuggets 120
Win Probability: Rockets 47%, Nuggets 53%
This game is likely to be the best of the night in the NBA on Monday given how well both of these teams have been playing. As for the result of the game, I think that the Nuggets will pull this one out at home. I'll lay the 1.5 points with Denver, as Jokic and Murray are both playing exceptionally well and should be able to overcome anything that Durant and Sengun do on the floor.
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