Rockets see potentially disastrous trend emerge with disappointing loss vs. Nuggets

The Houston Rockets dropped one of their best-played games of the season, 125-128, to the ascendant Denver Nuggets in a nail-biting, overtime matchup.

While the loss can be taken relatively lightly on its own, given the high level of performance the team saw across the entirety of the roster, it also represents the emergence of a worrying trend in the greater context of the Rockets' championship hopes: their inability to beat the best teams in the Western Conference.

Houston has now lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Denver Nuggets (twice). Although each of these defeats were narrow, the Rockets must learn to close out games against their toughest opponents if they want to have any shot at genuine championship contention this season.

The Rockets need to beat the best teams in the NBA if they want to be considered as such

Through Houston's first 23 games, there has been much to be pleased with as a fan. Heading into play on Monday night, they were top-five in the NBA in both offensive and defensive rating, and their acquisition of Kevin Durant has paid massive dividends in terms of the team's offensive potency and flexibility.

They, for the most part, have beaten the teams that they have been supposed to, only dropping isolated matchups against inferior opponents in their week of short rest preceding the break for NBA Cup play.

Nevertheless, a second loss to the Nuggets is concerning to say the least.

With how far the Thunder have pulled ahead in the Western Conference standings, Denver is the Rockets' most direct and comparable competition. While Houston is second in the league in net rating, the Nuggets are close behind, and, regardless of the way that the seeding ultimately shakes out, this felt undeniably like a playoff game.

If there is one concern that remains for the Rockets, it exists in direct relation to the questions surrounding the viability of the construction of their offense in a playoff setting, especially insofar as they will need to rival the performance of stars such as Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in order to even give themselves a fighting chance.

Yet, even in a game where everything clicked on that end of the court, Houston still ultimately fell short.

Needless to say, it's still early in the season, but the Rockets must, eventually, find a way to win a game against one of the teams that they see themselves being in the company off when the postseason rolls around.

They will get the chance to face the Nuggets again in Denver on Saturday.