The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets will meet in a huge Western Conference game in the NBA on Friday night. Both teams are in the top three in the Western Conference standings entering this matchup. This game has huge implications not only for short-term momentum early in the season, but for potential playoff seeding later in the year as well. Before tip-off from Houston, continue reading to get my Nuggets vs Rockets prediction.
Our Nuggets vs Rockets Pick
- Pick: Rockets –2.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets
- Date & Time: November 21, 2025, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
- Broadcast: Prime Video
Key Storylines
The Nuggets are riding high, having won four straight games on the road. Nikola Jokić continues to dominate, averaging over 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists per game. His playmaking remains the centerpiece of Denver’s offense. Jamal Murray (22.5 PPG) and Aaron Gordon have provided strong secondary scoring and have been reliable early in the season. But Denver is dealing with some injury questions. Aaron Gordon is listed as day-to-day with hamstring concerns, while Christian Braun and Julian Strawther are out.
The Rockets have hit the ground running in their first season since acquiring Kevin Durant. Alperen Şengün is a triple-double threat on any night, averaging 23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. Durant adds his trademark scoring with 25.5 PPG. And supporting players like Amen Thompson (16.8 PPG, 5.2 AST) and Jabari Smith Jr. provide depth. Houston’s lost just once at home this season and they will try to get a statement win at home in this game as well.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first time that the Nuggets and Rockets will play this year.
- Houston is 9-4 against the spread going into this game.
- Denver is 9-5 against the spread for the season.
- Houston is 10-2-1 to the over through 13 games this year.
- Denver has gone over the total 8 times in 14 games.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | Triple-double |
| Alperen Şengün | Over 10.5 rebounds |
| Jamal Murray | Over 21.5 points |
| Kevin Durant | Over 26.5 points |
Nuggets vs Rockets Model Projection
Score Projection: Denver 114 – Houston 119
Win Probability: Denver 44%, Houston 56%
Final Thoughts
Both of these teams have been spectacular this season and it’s hard to pick against either one of them right now. But the Rockets have home-court advantage and that should be enough to help them squeeze out a win over a fellow Western Conference contender. I’ll lay the points with the Rockets in what should be a very good game in Houston.
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