Rockets vs. Nuggets preview: Denver tries to slow down Houston, move on without Danilo Gallinari

The Denver Nuggets officially move on without forward Danilo Gallinari on Saturday night when they host the streaking Houston Rockets.

Gallinari is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in the first half of Denver's win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Despite the devastating injury, the Nuggets were able to rally and beat the Mavericks to extend their current home winning streak to 19 games.

That home streak will be put to the test by the Rockets as they arrive in Denver after beating the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night for their fourth consecutive win. The current winning streak has Houston eyeing the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings as they are now just one game behind the Golden State Warriors.

Denver, winners of its last three games, took advantage of a Memphis loss on Friday to take a one-game lead for third place in the West. All eyes will be on the perimeter in this matchup as Denver will look to Andre Iguodala to defend the combustible James Harden for the Rockets.

Harden averages 26 points per game for the Rockets but has yet to reach that average in the three prior games against Denver. The Nuggets won all three of those earlier matchups and can earn a sweep of the season series with a win tonight. The Rockets will be short some offensive fire power as well, with Chandler Parsons nursing a calf injury, which has kept him out the past two games and Carlos Delfino remaining questionable with the flu. Both players did not play on Friday in Portland.