{"id":653130,"date":"2026-03-11T18:33:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/653130\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:33:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:33:23","slug":"preview-nuggets-look-to-secure-season-series-with-the-rockets-as-defensive-woes-persist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/653130\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Nuggets look to secure season series with the Rockets as defensive woes persist"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mood is sour in the Mile High. A season that seemed to promise another deep playoff run feels like it\u2019s stalling out before it ever really got going. Plagued by persistent defensive collapses. the Nuggets actually started the 2025-26 season as one of the best defenses in the NBA. But after Monday night\u2019s gut shot that all but sealed the MVP for SGA, Denver has fallen to 22nd in defensive rating, barely ahead of the rebuilding Chicago Bulls and G-League Pacers. They\u2019ve been especially bad in the clutch where they seem unable to get turnovers, stops, or even clear the glass consistently. <\/p>\n

DEN\/OKC tied @ 109 w\/ 5 min left.
OKC outscored DEN 20-17. <\/p>\n

20 pts allowed.<\/p>\n

DEN’s clutch off (11.4 PPG Scored) \u2013 2nd
DEN’s clutch def (12.8 PPG Allowed) \u2013 30th<\/p>\n

Since clutch tracking began (’96-’97) that’s the most PPG allowed in clutch gms by ANY team in ANY season.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Hyatt (@DanHyattStats) March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Next up is a back-to-back against a pair of Texas contenders ahead of the Nuggets in the standings and playing better than them. While the Houston Rockets have dropped two of three in the matchup so far, they\u2019re 9-5 since February 7th with wins against OKC, LAC, ORL, and TOR and a couple of two-point losses to the Knicks and Warriors. The Nuggets are 6-7 in the same stretch, including a 39-point embarrassment at home against the Knicks over the weekend, and they seem out of answers on defense.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll have to find them to hang with the long and relentless Rockets and scorching-hot Spurs, or they\u2019ll risk dropping down into play-in position in a top-heavy Western Conference. <\/p>\n

The Basics<\/p>\n

Who: Denver Nuggets (39-26) vs Houston Rockets (40-24)<\/p>\n

When: 8:00 PM MST<\/p>\n

Where: Ball Arena, Denver<\/p>\n

How to watch\/listen: ESPN \/ Altitude TV \/ + \/ Tuner<\/p>\n

Rival Blog: The Dream Shake<\/a><\/p>\n

Injury Report | Nuggets: Cameron Johnson\u2014probable (back); Jamal Murray\u2014probable (ankle); Peyton Watson\u2014out (hamstring)<\/p>\n

Houston Rockets: Steven Adams\u2014out (ankle); Jae\u2019Sean Tate\u2014out (MCL); Fred VanVleet\u2014out (ACL)<\/p>\n

The Three Things<\/p>\n

The thing to watch for: Can Cam Johnson get into the flow?<\/p>\n

\"\"Dec 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is congratulated by forward Cameron Johnson (23) after a basket during the first half against the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

While defense has been and will continue to be the Nuggets\u2019 primary Achilles, two-fifths of their starting rotation have yet to really get into any kind of offensive rhythm this season. Christian Braun and Cam Johnson have both dealt with lingering injuries for the last two months, but with Aaron Gordon only recently making his return, the lack of reliable offensive production from the Nuggets\u2019 starting two and three has put a lot of pressure on Jokic and Murray to be nearly flawless every night.<\/p>\n

Cam Johnson 3P% on Jokic passes: 35.7%<\/p>\n

And on passes from anyone else: 43.4%<\/p>\n

How does that even happen? More on Johnson\u2019s struggles, and the importance that he turns it around before the Nuggets go to the playoffs: https:\/\/t.co\/GPVFGBrqhl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) March 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cam, in particular, has struggled to figure out his role in Jokic Ball. To be fair, more than any other player on the roster, he needed the bulk of the regular season to catch up with a core that\u2019s played together for half a decade. But Cam was also brought in as a replacement for the team\u2019s third scoring option, their most dangerous three-point shooter, and an effective rebounder. Cam moves better on defense and has superior instincts on that end than MPJ, but the offensive drop-off has been stark. For the season, he\u2019s averaging barely more than half what MPJ typically gave them the team and has yet to have any kind of meaningfully impactful single-game performance on offense. In the last five, he\u2019s averaging just 6.8 points on 30% from the field. <\/p>\n

The Nuggets have to start getting more from their 6\u20198 wing or a shakeup is probably needed when Watson gets back in the next week or two. <\/p>\n

The thing to remember: Steven Adams is out for the season<\/p>\n

The Rockets are still the best rebounding team in the league. But their depth took a serious blow when Steven Adams went down for the season with an ankle. Not only is Adams a quality defensive presence alongside Houston\u2019s other trees in their matchup with Jokic, but he was also the best rebounder on a team that can struggle to hit shots at times.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dec 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) battles with Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie (20) and guard Reed Sheppard (15) for a loose ball during the second half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Jok and AG should have more room to operate down low than they\u2019ve had in the previous three games and to mitigate the rebounding advantage Houston has against most other teams. Hopefully they stick with bully ball, unlike Monday night\u2019s second half against OKC. <\/p>\n

The thing to bet: Two-Man Game Parlay | Jokic +30 points and +12 rebounds \/ Murray +25 points and +7 assists<\/p>\n

Jokic has averaged about 33\/11\/8 against the Rockets this year and should have an easier time gobbling boards than in the last three. Houston\u2019s perimeter length is a tough matchup for Jamal, but he\u2019s scored on everyone this year (25.7 vs. HOU) and has averaged over seven assists in this matchup. Until Watson\u2019s back and CB, AG, and CJ all round into playoff form, Jokic and Murray will continue to carry the bulk of the offensive load. <\/p>\n

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