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 downgraded to out with right elbow inflammation.

“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.