Denver Nuggets: Ranking Denver’s playoff opponents

By Chris Bolin | Apr 1, 2019

DENVER, CO - MARCH 12: Gary Harris #14 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets react to a play during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 12, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Denver Nuggets (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets

Nuggets Record vs. Rockets: 1-3

Coming into the season, the two teams you wouldn’t want to face out West were the Warriors and the Rockets. That hasn’t changed.

The blowout loss the Nuggets took at the hands of the Rockets last week back up that theory. But, Houston isn’t unbeatable by any means.

Denver pretty easily took down Houston on Feb. 1 — during the peak of James Harden’s dominance. Clint Capela didn’t play for Houston that night, but Gary Harris and Jamal Murray didn’t play for Denver.

It’s still not a matchup the Nuggets — or any team out West — really want to see.

Harden has been on another level this season. And at a certain point, there’s nothing you can do to contain him.

He will get his through an arsenal of floaters, dunks and stepback 3’s. And a hand in his face has never stopped him from firing — and making — any shot.

Beyond him, Chris Paul isn’t even a year removed from almost carrying this Rockets team past the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals — before injuring his hamstring in Game 6.

Beyond them, Capela, Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker are all more than capable of making a play when called upon.

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