Nikola Jokic was on the road this week with the Nuggets, but he sat out all four games of their critical Western Conference trip, confronting the team with its fair share of adversity.
But Denver managed to return home with a 2-2 split after beating the Rockets 116-111 on Sunday in Houston, bookending the trip with wins against red-hot opponents. Houston had won nine straight.
Coach Michael Malone said Jokic (ankle and elbow injuries) is unlikely to play Monday when the Nuggets complete a back-to-back, but the reigning MVP is expected to return at some point in the next week during a five-game homestand.