The Rockets have struggled offensively out of the gates after the All-Star break.
Facing the Nuggets at home may just be the cure they needed, because Denver is the worst defensive road team in the league.
The Houston Rockets (21-15) look to regain their offensive form against the Denver Nuggets (19-17) as both teams fight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference in Friday’s game of the night.
The odds favor Houston (the line is 3.5) as they sit 15-4 at home this season while the Nuggets are just 4-9 on the road against Western Conference teams.
The teams last met on February 6 when the Rockets defeated the Nuggets on their home floor 99-90 behind a combined 45 points from Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola.
The Rockets face a big test as the second half of the season begins with two games at home against conference rivals in the Nuggets and Clippers before going on a five-game road trip that includes two sets of back-to-backs. Houston is just 6-11 on the road.
Houston has been out-rebounded in all of their past eight games. It is clearly an issue when your point guard is the third best rebounder on the team.
Kevin Martin continues to search for a sense of consistency after scoring just six points in the loss against the Jazz last game. The team’s leading scorer (17.5) has already failed to score in double figures six times in the month of February. Last season, Martin scored in single digits just three times.
For Denver, Ty Lawson returned after a two-game hiatus and gave a fantastic line for fantasy owners.
Rudy Fernandez is a game-time decision after missing the previous five contests with a lower back strain. Danilo Gallinari (left ankle) and Nene (left calf) are questionable for this game but will soon rejoin the team.
Kenneth Faried, nicknamed the “Manimal”, has been coming into his own as of late with three double-doubles in the last six games, and George Karl has been impressed with the high basketball IQ of the young rookie.
The return of Gallinari would provide a big boost for the Nuggets as the team is 15-10 with him in the lineup. Surprisingly, the team is also 15-11 — the second best winning percentage among Nuggets starters — when Timofey Mozgov is in the lineup.