NBA · Monday, November 9, 2026 · 8:30 PM ET · Toyota Center (Houston)

Denver Nuggets vs Houston Rockets: Prediction and Odds

Leo’s read, frozen before tip. DEN at HOU.

Denver Nuggets24%Leo win chance
at
Houston Rockets76%Leo win chance
Leo spread
HOU -9.5
Expected margin
DraftKings
HOU -9.5
Moneyline DEN +276, HOU -344
Call
No call
-344 is past -230

Both have HOU winning: Leo by 9.5, DraftKings by 9.5. Same number, so no lean.

Projected score: DEN 108, HOU 117 (total 225). Information only; Leo does not lean on totals.

No pick: Leo has HOU 76%, but the price is -344, -230 or dearer.

Why Leo has HOU by 9.5

  1. Team strength: HOU rates 4.5 pts better than DEN on results so far.
  2. Injuries: DEN is missing more, 3.6 pts toward HOU.
  3. Home court: worth 1.7 pts to HOU.

What could still move it. Nikola Jokic (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 2.0 toward HOU; if he plays, 1.3 toward DEN. Jamal Murray (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 1.7 toward HOU; if he plays, 1.1 toward DEN. Christian Braun (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 0.6 toward HOU; if he plays, 0.4 toward DEN. Aaron Gordon (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 0.5 toward HOU; if he plays, 0.3 toward DEN. Cameron Johnson (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 0.3 toward HOU; if he plays, 0.2 toward DEN. DeMar DeRozan (DEN, day to day) is counted at 40%. If he sits, Leo's number moves 0.3 toward HOU; if he plays, 0.2 toward DEN.

Leo only knows team results, rest and the injury report. It does not know matchups, lineups announced after the read, or motivation, so a small gap from DraftKings is usually noise, which is why nothing under 4 points is a call.

What moves Leo’s number

Points added to HOU’s expected margin. Positive helps HOU, negative helps DEN.

Home court+1.7Average home edge, fitted on the last three seasons
Team ratings+4.5HOU rated +7.7, DEN +2.9 points against an average team
Back to back0.0Neither team played last night
Rest0.0HOU 2 days, DEN 2 days (capped at 4)
Missing players+3.6Value of regulars on the injury report: HOU 0, DEN 16.2
Leo’s margin+9.8HOU by 9.8 expected

Injury report

The injury report when Leo made its read. A player marked in Leo’s number is a regular whose value Leo has taken off his team: all of it when he is out, 40% of it when he is day to day, because Leo assumes about 4 in 10 day-to-day players end up sitting. Players without the mark play too little to move the number.

Denver Nuggets
  • Cameron Johnson Day to day Lower Body · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 27.6 min a game
  • DeMar DeRozan Day to day Back Spasms · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 21.6 min a game
  • Christian Braun Day to day Calf Bruise · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 34.3 min a game
  • Jamal Murray Day to day Lower Leg Bruise · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 36.5 min a game
  • Aaron Gordon Day to day Lower Body · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 29.1 min a game
  • Nikola Jokic Day to day Elbow Sprain · in Leo’s number at 40%, plays 35.9 min a game
  • Julian Strawther Out Knee Sprain
Houston Rockets
  • Oscar Tshiebwe Out Illness
  • Clint Capela Out Ankle Sprain
  • Steven Adams Out Calf Strain

Form

Denver Nuggets

5-3 this season · 115.3 scored, 113.1 allowed a game

  • W 114-102 at IND 11-07
  • W 128-109 vs TOR 11-04
  • L 110-118 vs POR 11-02
  • W 127-120 at PHX 10-30
  • W 104-91 at NO 10-28
Houston Rockets

7-3 this season · 116 scored, 107 allowed a game

  • L 99-102 at PHX 11-07
  • L 107-117 vs MIN 11-04
  • W 109-93 vs BOS 11-02
  • W 119-98 vs OKC 10-31
  • L 111-116 at DAL 10-30

Key players this season

Points per game this season and over each player’s last 5 games before this one. Every player’s game log is on Player Scoring.

Denver Nuggets
PlayerGPMINPTSLast 5REBAST
Jamal Murray Day to day836.524.325.45.56.1
Nikola Jokic Day to day835.922.923.210.19.1
Christian Braun Day to day834.313.515.43.92.1
Aaron Gordon Day to day829.112.312.85.32.1
Cameron Johnson Day to day527.610.810.84.21.8
DeMar DeRozan Day to day724.710.7101.93
Trevon Brazile821.17.46.46.10.6
Spencer Jones121131360
Houston Rockets
PlayerGPMINPTSLast 5REBAST
Jabari Smith Jr.103517.318.46.42.3
Alperen Sengun834.821.520.68.87.8
Kevin Durant1034.220.819.25.73
Amen Thompson1033.215.6136.43
Fred VanVleet830.113.416.43.46
Tari Eason1024.49.48.661.3
Marcus Smart722.69.19.82.72.1
Reed Sheppard720.6109.623.1
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Leo’s win chance and spread come from team results, rest and the injury report. The DraftKings line is shown for comparison and is never an input. Every read is graded on the results page. Analysis only, not betting advice. 21+.

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