The Houston Rockets delivered one of their most complete performances of the season on Monday night - and still walked away with a loss. In a game that had all the makings of a playoff preview, Houston fell 128-125 in overtime to the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
It was a thriller, packed with high-level execution, big-time shot-making, and a playoff-like intensity that never let up. But for the Rockets, the final result felt all too familiar.
This wasn’t just a hard-fought loss - it was another missed opportunity against a top-tier Western Conference opponent. And that’s becoming a pattern the Rockets can’t afford to ignore.
So far this season, Houston has dropped tightly contested games to the Thunder, Spurs, and now the Nuggets - twice. While each of those games could’ve swung the other way with a bounce or two, the bottom line is this: if the Rockets want to be taken seriously as contenders, they have to start winning these matchups. Close isn’t going to cut it come playoff time.
The Metrics Say Contender. The Results Say “Not Yet.”
There’s a lot to like about what the Rockets have built through their first 23 games. Heading into Monday night, they ranked in the NBA’s top five in both offensive and defensive rating - a rare and telling combination that usually signals a team with real staying power. The addition of Kevin Durant has elevated their offense in exactly the way they hoped it would, giving them a go-to scorer and a matchup nightmare who can tilt defenses and create space for everyone else.
They’ve taken care of business against the teams they’re supposed to beat, dropping only a few outliers during a stretch of short rest leading into the NBA Cup break. In terms of consistency, structure, and identity, this is a team that looks the part.
But when it comes to beating the teams that define the Western Conference hierarchy - the Thunder, the Nuggets, the Spurs on a good night - Houston hasn’t yet found the formula.
A Measuring Stick Game That Measured Everything
Monday night’s battle with Denver felt like more than just a regular-season game. With the Thunder pulling away atop the West standings, the Nuggets have become Houston’s most direct measuring stick.
Both teams are elite in net rating. Both are built around versatile, high-IQ offenses.
And both have championship aspirations.
This game had the feel of a postseason matchup - the pace, the physicality, the tactical adjustments. And the Rockets met the moment in a lot of ways.
Offensively, they were sharp. The ball moved.
The shot selection was disciplined. They got contributions across the board.
But when it came down to crunch time, Denver - led by Nikola Jokic doing what Jokic does - simply executed better.
And that’s where the concern creeps in.
Can Houston’s Offense Hold Up in the Playoffs?
The Rockets’ offense has been humming, but the playoffs are a different animal. The game slows down.
Defenses lock in. Matchups get hunted.
And stars have to be able to create something out of nothing when the system breaks down.
That’s the level Houston will need to reach - not just to compete with teams like Denver and Oklahoma City, but to beat them when it counts. Durant gives them a weapon most teams don’t have, but even with KD firing, they came up short. That’s not an indictment - it’s a reminder of how small the margins are at the top of the West.
And it’s also a reminder that, at some point, this team needs to prove it can win these kinds of games.
Another Shot Coming Soon
The good news? The Rockets won’t have to wait long for another crack at Denver. They’ll head to Colorado for a rematch on Saturday - a chance to respond, adjust, and maybe flip the script.
It’s still early in the season, and Houston has shown enough to believe they’re in the mix. But if they want to be more than just a regular-season success story, they’ll need to start stacking wins against the teams they’ll be seeing in May and June.
This loss might not define their season - but how they respond to it just might.