PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets meet Monday in NBA action at the Ball Arena. The Nuggets have won 21 of their last 27 regular season games , while the Rockets have won 6 of their last 8 games , setting up a matchup between two of the Western Conference's hottest teams. Denver's offensive efficiency stands out with elite three-point shooting ranked first in the league, complemented by their second-ranked passing game and strong defense that allows low-quality three-pointers. Meanwhile, Houston brings an elite offensive rebounding rate ranked first overall, but struggles with both three-point volume ranked 30th and defensive rebounding ranked 30th. Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.5 points and 12.3 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 24.4 points , giving Denver a dynamic scoring duo that few can defend. Kevin Durant is averaging 24.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun is averaging 23 points and 9.4 rebounds for Houston, providing their own formidable front-court presence. The Nuggets are 1-18-1 against the spread in their last 20 home games when favorites of 3 or fewer points, with seventeen of those failed covers being outright losses. The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last four games as underdogs , making this a compelling contest on the betting lines.