One of the best games you can watch in the NBA right now. Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Jamal Murray, Alperen Sengun… There are plenty of reasons to stay up late for this Rockets vs Nuggets clash, which promises to be gripping; mind you, the Colorado side arrive with quite a few doubts about their play and their players.
Rockets vs Nuggets date and time
Date: 9 November 2026, in the early hours of the 10th according to UK time.
Time: These are the Rockets vs Nuggets start times by time zone.
| United Kingdom | 01:30 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela | 20:30 |
| Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua | 18:30 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 16:30 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay | 21:30 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama | 19:30 |
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston (Texas)
Rockets vs Nuggets starting fives
In Houston we have the now familiar absences of Steven Adams and Clint Capela, while in Denver their entire probable starting line-up has been listed as doubtful.
| ROCKETS | NUGGETS |
| Fred VanVleet | Jamal Murray |
| Amen Thompson | Christian Braun |
| Kevin Durant | Cameron Johnson |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Aaron Gordon |
| Alperen Sengun | Nikola Jokic |
Rockets vs Nuggets: best bet
Because they are at home, because they are 7-3 and because they need to win after two consecutive defeats, we are backing a win for the Texas side, though by no means a comfortable one.
Latest on the Rockets: absences and form
After a spectacular start, two defeats (against the Wolves without Anthony Edwards and the Suns) have raised some doubts about the Houston Rockets. Even so, they hold a 7-3 record that keeps them sixth in the Western Conference and just a game and a half behind the Lakers, who currently top the standings.
They are playing better than last season, at least when it comes to moving the ball – they are 11th in assists after finishing 21st in 2025-26 – but they have yet to reach the level of maturity that should make them more reliable against beatable opponents.
Individually everyone is playing more or less well, so the task is to find a rhythm they can maintain for all 48 minutes. They are still waiting for Steven Adams and Clint Capela to recover.
Player to watch: Kevin Durant
With his experience and talent, he is the leader on the court. He is averaging 20.8 points per game and the best thing for him is that he does not have to handle as much of the ball as in previous seasons, so he looks set to arrive very fresh for the final stretch of the season. Tonight, against a direct rival, he must produce his best.
Latest on the Nuggets: absences and form
With four wins in their last five games, the pressure is easing in Denver. The front office has been criticised, and even Nikola Jokic, who did not start entirely sharply, but the truth is they remain one of the most talented teams in the competition.
Tonight they face a real litmus test, as they visit one of the best teams in the Western Conference. A win would be a huge morale boost to believe they can compete for the title.
They have numerous doubts for tonight, as their entire starting five is listed as a game time decision. They will most likely end up playing and treat us to the most prolific attack in the League, at 122.1 points per night.
Player to watch: Nikola Jokic
It could not be anyone else. He is coming off 19 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists against the Indiana Pacers and looks set to be the driving force behind a possible win tonight. He is a three-month MVP. Nothing less than excellence can be expected.
Rockets vs Nuggets: head-to-head record
Almost complete parity between the two. They have met 211 times in the regular season, with Houston winning 108 and Denver 103. The most recent period does not separate them much either, as the record in the last 10 is 6-4 in favour of the Colorado side.
Rockets vs Nuggets predictions
Over 22.5 points Kevin Durant. This is not his most prolific year in attack, but in games of this calibre he must step up to lead his team.
Houston Rockets handicap -4.5. The Texas side should win, but nobody should expect them to do so by a big margin. They are sure to sweat for it.
Over 224.5 total points. Denver are the highest-scoring team in the NBA and Houston the second-best defence in the West in terms of points conceded… We are taking a gamble on the attacks prevailing.
Where to watch Rockets vs Nuggets
The game between the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets will be available in the UK through an NBA League Pass subscription.
