Houston at Denver

Houston has been great at home (9-3) and even better on the road (9-2). The reason is defense, ranked second in points allowed and third in field goal shooting defense, allowing .428% shooting. The Rockets went 8-3 with Dwight Howard out due to a strained right knee, averaging a plus-1.8 scoring margin, and now he is back. While Houston is outstanding and getting healthy, they face an injury-ravaged Denver Nuggets team. Denver forwards Kenneth Faried (ankle) and Danilo Gallinari (knee) are not 100%. Center JaVale McGee has missed 10 of the last 11 games with soreness in his surgically repaired left leg and is still out. Interior defense has been a growing problem for the Nuggets, who are allowing 42.0 points in the paint per game while dropping seven of 10. The wagering value is with the Rockets to win the game, so take Houston on the moneyline.