Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets injury report

With its second win over Memphis in as many tries, the Houston Rockets finally have a breathing hole at No. 2 in the Western Conference, but won’t be ready to let off the gas just yet.

At 26-12 on the season, the team has been one of the biggest surprises of the year, largely carried by its crafty veterans in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, and a massive young core, highlighted by center Alperen Sengun.

After losing three of four games, the team has now course-corrected to win four in a row, including wins over the Wizards and Lakers as well.

The primary driver has been the play of guard Jalen Green, who — along with his 2021 counterparts — finally seems to be figuring things out for good. In his last five games, he is scoring 31.6 points on 53% shooting overall, making 48% of his 10.8 3-pointers per game. match.

Guard Amen Thompson has also been a catalyst, taking both offensive and defensive pressure off Green with him in the starting lineup. In his last four, all starts, Thompson is averaging 18.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

On Wednesday night, the team faces its toughest test in some time in Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Jokic is in the midst of another MVP-worthy season, and while the team hasn’t quite lived up to its expectations thus far, they’re still a force in the West, and will likely be one of the few teams to make a push for Houston’s No. 2 place.

Denver won’t be at full strength after beating Dallas, 118-99, on Tuesday night, but it won’t be a walk in the park for the Rockets. Here are the injury reports for both teams ahead of Wednesday’s game:

Tari Eason — Questionable: Left lower leg control

Jabari Smith Jr. — Out: Left metacarpal fracture

Jock Landale — Out: Personal reasons

Vlatko Cancer — Out: Left knee surgery

Aaron Gordon — Available: right calf strain

DaRon Holmes II — Out: right Achilles tendon repair

Nikola Jokic — Available: illness

Houston will be without its two forwards against Denver. Tari Eason has been out since mid-December with a lingering leg injury, and Jabari Smith Jr. is still out with a hand injury sustained in the shootaround weeks ago.

Those two are certainly a big addition to the team’s depth, especially playing forward, but players like Thompson, Cam Whitmore and more have stepped up in their absence. Since returning from his most recent G League stint, Whitmore has been able to put up over 12 points per game. game on 46% shooting and has done his best to provide scoring punch off the bench with injury absences.

Jokic and Aaron Gordon are available for Denver.

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