Key players sidelined impact championship hopes. Discover which stars are out and how these absences tilt the court for Rockets and Nuggets.
Wednesday, March 11, the Houston Rockets (40-24) face the Denver Nuggets (39-26) on their second night of yet another back-to-back in Denver.
When: Wednesday, March 11 @ 9:00 PM CT
Where: Ball Arena, Denver
Where to watch:
ESPN (national)
Space City Home Network (local)
Rockets vs. Nuggets Injury Report
Houston:
Out: Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle injury management)
Out: Jae'Sean Tate (right knee sprain)
Out: Steven Adams (left ankle surgery)
Out: Fred VanVleet (right knee ACL repair)
Denver:
Probable: Cameron Johnson (back spasms)
Probable: Jamal Murray (left ankle sprain)
Out: Peyton Watson (right hamstring sprain)
Denver enters Wednesday night’s matchup relatively healthy, with Jamal Murray listed as probable while continuing to manage a left ankle sprain. Murray remains one of the Nuggets’ most dangerous offensive weapons, capable of exploding for big scoring nights alongside Denver’s interior anchor, Nikola Jokic.
Cameron Johnson is also listed as probable as of now. Johnson provides Denver with a valuable secondary scoring option, capable of knocking down catch-and-shoot threes while also attacking closeouts when defenses collapse toward Jokic.
The Nuggets will be without Peyton Watson, whose right hamstring sprain removes a versatile defensive piece from their rotation, but otherwise Denver should have most of its offensive firepower available. That’s a significant advantage for a team playing at home and entering the game with the added benefit of rest.
On Houston’s side, the only real update is Dorian Finney-Smith’s ankle injury he’s managing after playing for 21 minutes against the Raptors on Tuesday night. Finney-Smith’s absence takes away one of Houston’s more flexible defensive options- a wing capable of switching across positions and helping disrupt Denver’s half-court actions.
Other than that, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams remain out, likely for the rest of the season. VanVleet continues to be monitored, but Adams will not return after undergoing ankle surgery. Jae'Sean Tate is expected to be re-evaluated this month, but has been ruled out for tonight’s game, after the Rockets reported an expected 4-6 week recovery time late last month. His absence further thins Houston’s defensive rotation.
Beyond the injury report, the stakes in the Western Conference make this matchup especially important for Houston.
The Rockets currently sit third in the conference, with Denver just a few games behind in the standings. In a race this tight, head-to-head games carry extra weight. A win in Denver would strengthen Houston’s grip on a top-three seed while creating valuable separation from a direct competitor in the playoff picture.