The Denver Nuggets faced a significant setback as they were decisively defeated by the Houston Rockets, losing 128-108. The game took a turn for the worse before it even started when star player Nikola Jokic was ruled out due to right elbow inflammation. Nuggets head coach Mike Malone revealed that Jokic suffered the injury during warmups, stating it 'popped up last minute' and added that he could not assess the injury's severity yet as he hadn’t spoken with trainers.

This absence was keenly felt, particularly as Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, has been a critical contributor, averaging 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game, alongside shooting 55.5% from the field and 47.1% from beyond the arc. With Jokic and fellow player Aaron Gordon sidelined, the team struggled against the Rockets, highlighting the importance of Jokic’s presence on the court.