Nuggets vs. Rockets prediction, Digi Mart USA News (Houston): The Houston Rockets return home looking to snap a two-game losing streak after a strong start to the season. They host the Denver Nuggets, who opened their road trip with a win in Mexico City, in a Monday night matchup between two star-laden NBA teams.
Sportsbooks have the Rockets favored by 4.5 points at home, with the Over/Under set at around 222.5 points. Houston impressed early, especially after posting big blowout wins against the Thunder and Celtics.
However, the Rockets’ two recent losses exposed a flaw that hurt them for most of last season. In a back-and-forth game against the Suns this weekend, Houston went cold in the clutch.
Devin Booker outscored the Rockets by himself over the final six minutes and won a shootout against Kevin Durant, who shot 1 of 5 over that same stretch.
Houston has a 2-3 record in clutch-time games this season, and it was also under .500 in such games last season after playing the most of any team in the NBA. The Rockets have struggled to generate efficient late-game offense despite having several players who can initiate the offense.
The Nuggets are 2-1 in clutch games this season and tend to win close contests on the strength of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray making sound plays on offense, along with Denver’s team defense coming together for key stops.
The matchup appears closer than the records suggest. Both teams have strong offenses, but Jokic can exploit Houston in the paint with Steven Adams and Clint Capela out with injuries.
The analysis expects Denver to outduel Houston down the stretch, and it favors the Nuggets on the moneyline.
