The Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets will be involved in an intriguing NBA Cup showdown this weekend. The two teams are leading the race in Group C in the West, coutesy of better point differentials, so this meeting determine who gains the top position outright. Will the Nuggets end Houston’s win streak? Or, will the Rockets silence Nikola Jokic and company?
Catch this game live on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Denver Nuggets (11-3, 5-2 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jamal Murray
- Cameron Johnson
- Peyton Watson
- Aaron Gordon (Probable)
- Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets will always be dangerous so long as they have Nikola Jokic playing. But they can also be so much more if others are stepping up outside of the trio of Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray.
That was the case on Thursday, when Denver pummeled the New Orleans Pelicans in a 128-118 victory in The Big Easy. Peyton Watson erupted for 32 points to lead the Nuggets, shooting 13-for-19 from the floor and hitting five 3-pointers along the way. The Nuggets also missed the services of Gordon in that contest because of a hamstring injury, but he’s expected to return to action in time for the meeting with Houston.
Denver is running the most prolific offense in the season thus far, as it is averaging 124.6 points pe game while posting a 57.5 effective field goal percentage — fourth-best overall. And they are also doing it by sharing the ball, with Denver averaging 0.65 assists per field goal made, which is 10th in the league.
The Nuggets enter Saturday with a 3-1 record against the spread in their last four road games.
Home: Houston Rockets (10-3, 5-1 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Amen Thompson
- Josh Okogie
- Kevin Durant
- Jabari Smith Jr. (Questionable)
- Alperen Sengun
The Rockets stretched their win streak to five games, claiming a big victory on Thursday by taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers in enemy territory, 1140-104. It was a statement game in large part for Houston’s defense, which shouldn’t be overlooked amid the presence of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. The Cavs shot just 44 percent from the field and just 31 percent from behind the arc.
That defense will be heavily tested by the high-scoring Nuggets, but if Denver wants a firefight, the Rockets have the weapons to keep up. After all, Houston is second in the league with a 123.9 points per game average. What makes it harder to stop the Rockets’ attack is their relentlessness in getting possessions back off misses.
They are the top-rebounding team in the league with an average of 62.1 rebounds per game and a league-best 38.4 percent offensive rebound rate. But back on defense, Houston is fifth in the NBA with just 112.5 points allowed per contest, while holding opponents down to 45.3 field goal percentage.
The Rockets are 3-2 against the spread in their last five home games in the regular season versus the Nuggets.
Picks
Spread: Houston Rockets (-2.5)
Over/Under: Over (235.0)
