The Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets square off for the last time this regular season. The Rockets will try to level the season series against Denver, while Denver aims to win the series outright. Check out our preview of this contest below.

Catch this game live on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Houston Rockets (40-24, 18-16 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Amen Thompson
  • Tari Eason
  • Kevin Durant
  • Jabari Smith Jr.
  • Alperen Sengun

The Rockets got back on track after a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on the road on Monday. Kevin Durant and compant scored a 113-99 win at home on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors to gain some momentum heading into their final meeting in the regular season with Denver. 

Although the Rockets lost two of the three games this season against Denver, that lone win came on Dec. 21, when Houston topped the Nuggets, 115-101. Durant scattered 31 points on 8/14 shooting in that game, and the Rockets shot 51% as a team from the field. But their defense was perhaps a bigger factor, as they held Denver to only 40 FG%. On the season, the Rockets are sixth with a 111.9 defensive rating.

The Rockets are 3-1 against the spread in their last four trips to Denver.

Home: Denver Nuggets (39-26, 17-13 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jamal Murray (DTD)
  • Christian Braun
  • Cameron Johnson (DTD)
  • Aaron Gordon
  • Nikola Jokic

After back-to-back losses to the New York Knicks (142-103) at home and to the Oklahoma City Thunder (129-126) on the road on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively, the Nuggets are looking for a jumpstart. Facing a team they have already defeated twice this season could just be what Denver needs to get back to its winning ways, though the Rockets remain a dangerous foe.

Meanwhile, the status of Jamal Murray is worth monitoring, as he’s listed as questionable to play against Houston at the time of this writing due to an ankle issue. Denver has recently gotten a lift with the return of Aaron Gordon after a long absence. 

The Nuggets, who are No. 1 in the league with a 57.1 effective field goal percentage, are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games versus Houston.

Picks

Spread: Denver Nuggets (-5.5)

Over/Under: Under (229.0)