Denver @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2019 ) Houston 95, Denver 105

NBA scoring leader James Harden is listed as questionable as the Houston Rockets host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Harden missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to a sprained toe and Monday's update suggests his status won't be fully known until game day.

Harden, who averages 38.5 points per game, suffered the injury during Saturday's win over the Brooklyn Nets and he was scratched prior to Sunday's 127-112 road loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Point guard Russell Westbrook (rest) and center Clint Capela (heel) also sat out the contest and Houston used a starting backcourt of Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers in the loss to the Pelicans. The Nuggets are on a roll with nine wins in their past 10 contests after defeating the visiting Sacramento Kings 120-115 on Sunday. Star center Nikola Jokic recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds when Denver notched a 105-95 home win over the Rockets on Nov. 20.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, Altitude (Denver), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (23-9): Forward Michael Porter Jr. made his first career start in the victory over Sacramento with shooting guard Gary Harris (shin) sidelined and the 21-year-old scored a career-best 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 26 minutes. Porter said he "was just wanting to blend with that starting group and do what I could do on the court" but he definitely exceeded the expectations of Denver coach Michael Malone. "He's coming along and I appreciate how patient he's been, since it has not been easy," Malone told reporters. "He gets a chance to start and I was excited for that opportunity for him and he went out and played great. This is just a glimpse of what's to come."

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (22-11): Gordon's appearance on Sunday was his first in nearly seven weeks due to knee surgery and he scored a season-best 20 points while playing just 22 minutes. "I just want to continue to build from this," Gordon told reporters afterward. "We played well. It's just things got tough towards the end and we kind of fell. We've got a lot of young guys playing out there, but everybody played well and I'm sure we'll be fine." Big man Isaiah Hartenstein made his first career start in place of Capela and recorded 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and collected nine rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets have lost their last six visits to Houston.

2. Houston backup SG Ben McLemore is just 14-of-45 shooting over the past six games.

3. Denver PF Paul Millsap (quadriceps) has missed the past two games and he and Harris are listed as questionable.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 114, Rockets 111