The Matchup: Denver Nuggets (0-0) at Houston Rockets (0-0)
Location: Toyota Center
Time: Wednesday, October 28 at 6 p.m. MT
How to Watch: Altitude
Betting Line (per Bovada): Rockets by 10.5
The Nuggets and Rockets both lead off their seasons Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.
For Denver, it’ll be the first real opportunity to test out their new defensive focus under head coach Michael Malone in a meaningful game, and they’ll be tested by a strong offensive team.
James Harden is the Rockets’ head of the snake, a snake that advanced to the Western Conference Finals last season. As the player’s choice for MVP in 2014-15, he’s a ball-handling maestro who can beat anyone off the dribble and complete a dizzying array of step-backs, fadeaways and spin moves.
On this night, I’m assuming Gary Harris will, unluckily, get a lot of reps on the Beard, as will Will Barton. Normally, Wilson Chandler would help, but the Denver Post‘s Chris Dempsey announced Wednesday that he will be out for a little while.
Wilson Chandler says hip injury isn't serious but it may keep him sidelined for 1-2 weeks. #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) October 28, 2015
Unfortunately, the lack of experienced, strong defenders Denver can throw at Harden immediately puts the Nuggets behind the 8 ball. Arguably the NBA’s best offensive player is almost guaranteed to have a strong game.
Elsewhere in the lineup, both teams will be without their regular starting centers (Jusuf Nurkic for the Nuggets, Dwight Howard for the Rockets). Nurkic is recovering from a torn patella tendon in his knee and Howard is serving a one-game suspension for committing too many flagrant fouls in last spring’s playoffs.
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Joffrey Lauvergne and Clint Capela are their replacements, and I’d have to give a slight edge to Capela at that position. He’s very athletic, strong, protects the rim and finishes hard at the rim. Lauvergne is a solid player, but his physical tools aren’t quite as overwhelming as Capela’s.
Ty Lawson and Emmanuel Mudiay will obviously be a fun matchup at point guard, since one is replacing the other as the Nuggets’ face of the franchise. Both will be extra motivated to prove themselves in this game.
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At the forwards, Danilo Gallinari and Kenneth Faried both have slight edges over their respective counterparts, Trevor Ariza and Terrence Jones. If Denver is pull off the upset, they’ll need Gallinari to get hot from the outside and Faried to outwork Jones inside.
Off the bench, Houston does have the advantage, although not a huge one, especially with Donatas Motiejunas out and Capela having to step into the starting lineup. Corey Brewer, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and K.J. McDaniels lead the Houston reserves, and Denver will counter with Jameer Nelson, Randy Foye, Will Barton, Nikola Jokic and Darrell Arthur (among others).
So, who will win Wednesday? The Rockets are the pretty comfortable favorite, with Harden probably having his way against every Nuggets defender that guards him. The rest of the team, even without the All-Star Howard, is excellent in limited roles around The Beard and will benefit from the offensive attention he commands.
Final Score Prediction: Rockets 109, Nuggets 97