The last time Houston played, its fast start met a hard stop in a 102-99 loss to Phoenix. Denver, meanwhile, left Saturday with a 114-102 win over Indiana and two straight victories. Now the Rockets and Nuggets bring their big men to Houston on Monday night, where every pass near the rim could start a new chapter.

As of Saturday, Houston stands 7-3, while Denver is 5-3. The Rockets have championship-sized goals after keeping most of a strong Western Conference group together. The Nuggets are trying to prove that Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and a changed supporting cast can still chase the West’s top teams. This is more than an early-November game. It is a battle between two offenses built around clever centers.

Houston’s Alperen Sengun turns the post area near the basket into a puzzle. He uses fakes, spins, and soft shots to score, but his passing may be even tougher to stop. Sengun is averaging 22.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in seven games. Those assists show how often he creates open looks for teammates after defenders crowd around him.

Kevin Durant gives Sengun a towering target on the wing. Durant has scored 20.8 points per game while making more than half his shots, and his 40.6 percent shooting from three-point range makes defenders stretch farther from the basket. That can open driving lanes for Amen Thompson, the speedy 6-foot-7 playmaker who grabs rebounds and attacks in transition, meaning the rush after a missed shot.

Houston’s defense could be its loudest advantage. The Rockets average 6.1 blocks, nearly twice Denver’s 3.5, and their athletic wings can make shots near the rim difficult. Still, Houston must protect the ball better after averaging 15.7 turnovers. A careless pass against Denver can quickly become a Murray jumper or a Jokic pass leading to an easy finish.

Jokic is the master organizer on the other side. He is close to a triple-double each night with 22.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. A triple-double means reaching double digits in three major stats, often points, rebounds, and assists. Jokic can score from the post, set a screen to free Murray, or spot a cutter with a pass that seems to slip through a tiny window.

Murray enters hot from deep, hitting 49.2 percent of his three-point shots while leading Denver at 24.3 points per game. His two-player dance with Jokic will challenge Houston’s switching defense. Aaron Gordon’s sharp cuts and powerful finishes add another problem, while DeMar DeRozan is listed as probable with a back issue and could provide steady midrange scoring.

Denver moves the ball well and averages 27.8 assists, but Houston has more size, more shot-blocking, and a 9-point average scoring edge through 10 games. The Rockets have dropped two in a row, yet their home floor and deeper collection of long defenders give them a chance to answer quickly. Prediction: Houston wins by making Jokic work through traffic and letting Sengun guide the offense late.

Alperen Sengun and Nikola Jokic Set the Table in Houston