The Denver Nuggets approach their March 23, 2025, contest against the Houston Rockets with a 44-26 record, a mark that belies the turbulence they’ve encountered in recent weeks, primarily due to the absence of their cornerstone, Nikola Jokić. The reigning MVP’s unavailability due to undisclosed injury issues has left the Nuggets vulnerable on both ends of the floor, stripping them of their most effective offensive facilitator and defensive anchor, and placing immense pressure on the rest of the roster to keep the team afloat in a fiercely competitive Western Conference. Without Jokić orchestrating from the high post or dominating in the paint, Denver has struggled to maintain its offensive identity, with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. expected to carry significantly more load—Murray averaging 21.8 points and 6.6 assists per game, while Porter Jr. contributes with timely perimeter shooting and rebounding, but neither has managed to replicate the playmaking versatility and court vision Jokić brings on a nightly basis. Head coach Michael Malone has voiced concern about the team’s drop in effort and execution, particularly on the defensive end, where Denver has given up over 120 points in back-to-back losses, highlighting lapses in communication, transition coverage, and defensive rebounding without Jokić’s presence inside. Aaron Gordon has stepped up in spurts, bringing physicality and athleticism, but the lack of interior depth has forced the Nuggets into smaller, less defensively robust lineups, which teams like the Rockets—loaded with quick guards and versatile bigs—can exploit in half-court and transition settings.

Denver’s bench, once a strength, has gone cold of late, with players like Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson struggling to generate consistent scoring or defensive impact, contributing to the team’s recent skid. The Nuggets have also suffered from inconsistent three-point shooting, an area where they had previously thrived thanks to the open looks created by Jokić’s gravitational pull; without that, their offense has become more isolation-heavy and easier to predict and defend. Entering this matchup, Denver is well aware that Houston is not only red-hot but also undefeated over their past eight games, led by a dynamic core of Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, and bolstered by improved defensive effort under head coach Ime Udoka. For Denver to steal a win on the road, they’ll need a high-level performance from Murray, who must aggressively hunt for his shot while also facilitating offense for teammates, and from Porter Jr., whose ability to space the floor and knock down contested jumpers could be a swing factor. Defensively, the Nuggets must find a way to protect the paint and close out on shooters, relying heavily on Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to disrupt Houston’s offensive rhythm. The stakes are high: slipping further in the standings could push Denver into the volatile play-in tournament, a scenario the defending champions would prefer to avoid. A win in Houston would not only be a much-needed confidence boost but could also reignite the team’s momentum heading into the season’s final stretch. But to accomplish that, they’ll need discipline, urgency, and execution—elements that have eluded them recently and must now be summoned in full if they hope to avoid being overwhelmed by a young, surging Rockets squad hungry to prove its legitimacy against a championship-caliber opponent, even one short-handed.