Denver at Houston

Houston lost 102-99 at Phoenix on Saturday, its second straight defeat. The Suns scored 35 in the first quarter, and turnovers hurt the Rockets in both losses. Ime Udoka blamed loose balls and 50/50 balls. Houston also has Clint Capela and Steven Adams out, so the Rockets run Alperen Sengun and a small-ball group through the rotation. Denver arrives in worse shape. The Nuggets beat Indiana in Mexico City on Saturday, then sat on a plane into the early hours of Sunday after aircraft trouble, and Monday's shootaround was canceled. Nikola Jokic made the injury report for the first time this season with a right elbow sprain, after going 7-for-20 from the floor against the Pacers in 36 minutes. Denver listed all five starters as questionable on Sunday, along with DeMar DeRozan. I expect a short rotation and heavy legs from the road side, and a Denver offense that runs through a center whose elbow is in question. Houston's last game produced 99 points in a loss, and its offense stalled when the game was on the line. With Denver's travel and rotation in doubt and Houston turning the ball over in its last two games, the UNDER is the bet here.