Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic was unexpectedly ruled out for Wednesday’s contest against the Houston Rockets. Not on the initial injury report, Jokic was dow

“We had a conversation when he came to me in training camp,” Michael Malone said. “And he asked me, he goes, ‘Coach, do you think I should shoot more 3s?'” Denver had already attempted the fewest 3-pointers in the league the previous season. And that was before losing 3-and-D guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency.

The Houston Rockets were in rebuilding mode a couple of seasons ago, and now it seems as if they're in contending mode. Houston has won four games in a row -- the last two over the Memphis Grizzlies -- and sits second overall in the Western Conference heading into its game at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.