The Houston Rockets will finish a three-game homestand with Saturday’s New Year’s Day visit from Denver, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ve got the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as all the information you’ll need to make the smartest bets at Tipico Sportsbook.
The Rockets-Nuggets game tips at 7 p.m. CST and can be viewed or streamed via AT&T SportsNet Southwest and NBA League Pass.
For the Rockets, they will begin 2022 in a similar manner to how they ended 2021: Welcoming a health-ravaged opponent to Toyota Center.
This time, it’s Denver, which is coming off a postponement due to a lack of enough available players. Fortunately, barring a late increase in positive COVID-19 test results, the Nuggets have made enough temporary hardship additions that Saturday’s game should go forward.
Even though the Rockets have superior depth, given current health and injury lists, Denver (17-16) is the favored team for one very big reason: Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is healthy. By contrast, Houston (10-26) enters with six straight losses after Friday’s setback versus Miami.
With the signing of Rayjon Tucker, here’s the Nuggets healthy depth chart until further notice:
Facu Campazzo
Will Barton/Rayjon Tucker
Davon Reed
JaMychal Green/Bol Bol
Nikola Jokić/Petr Cornelie https://t.co/PkfHahI8C6— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) December 31, 2021
It also remains to be seen how head coach Stephen Silas will navigate back-to-back considerations, since the Rockets also played on Friday’s New Year’s Eve. Earlier in the week, Houston rested guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green on half of a back-to-back, since each is coming off a leg injury that recently sidelined them for multiple weeks.
Then again, perhaps this back-to-back is different, since both games are in Houston (meaning no in-between travel) and both young guards have improved their conditioning since making their initial returns. Silas indicated Friday that he was hopeful of having Green and Porter available for both ends of this back-to-back, but that a final determination would not be made until evaluating them on Saturday.
Some good news: #Rockets are hopeful to have Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. available for both ends of this back-to-back, per Stephen Silas.
Will evaluate after tonight’s game to see, but the hope is that they will also play Saturday versus Denver.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 31, 2021
