Nuggets Take Early Lead in High-Stakes NBA Cup Clash vs Rockets
Tonight, the Houston Rockets are hosting the Denver Nuggets in what’s quickly shaping up to be one of the most anticipated NBA Cup games of the season. Both Western Conference teams, widely predicted by experts to challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder, are coming off strong starts and have proven themselves as serious contenders early in the 2025–26 season.
The Rockets, fueled by offseason acquisition Kevin Durant, have been on fire, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Every game this season has been a sellout for Houston, highlighting the excitement around their roster. Durant, averaging 25.5 points per game, naturally draws the spotlight, but his teammate Alperen Şengün has been quietly dominating. Şengün is putting up elite numbers this season—23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game—making him the only other player besides Nikola Jokić averaging more than 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists this season.
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For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokić is off to a historic start. Over his last nine games, he has averaged 34 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 11.3 assists, with shooting splits that are already surpassing his previous career highs. Through the first month of the season, Jokić leads the league in both rebounds and assists, and his performance has put him on track for a potential third MVP award. Jamal Murray, along with Cam Johnson, Peyton Watson, and Aaron Gordon, join Jokić in Denver’s starting lineup, creating a balanced and dynamic squad ready to challenge Houston on the road.
The game itself has already seen the Nuggets build an early 16–8 lead with just under four minutes left in the first quarter, thanks in part to Jamal Murray’s five points to start the night. The Rockets, starting with Şengün, Durant, Alperen, Steven Adams, and Amen Thompson, will be looking to rally in front of their home crowd at the Toyota Center.
This matchup is not just about the points on the board—it’s also part of the NBA’s growing effort to make the Cup games nationally accessible, with more than 60 million viewers tuning into league broadcasts in the first month alone, the highest opening-month viewership in 15 years. Tonight’s game is being streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video at 9:30 p.m. ET, making it easy for fans across the country to watch two of the league’s hottest teams go head-to-head.
In short, this is a clash between two Western powerhouses, with early-season storylines already emerging: Jokić aiming for another MVP-worthy campaign, Durant and Şengün driving the Rockets, and both teams hungry to establish dominance as the season heads into December. If tonight is any indication, the Nuggets vs. Rockets showdown promises intensity, highlight plays, and a glimpse at the kind of basketball that could define the season.
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