Even though there’s only one more scheduled meeting left, the Rockets and Nuggets should plan on seeing plenty more of each other before a champion is crowned.

A third of the way through the regular season, the Rockets look like Denver’s stiffest competition in the quest for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Nobody should plan on contesting Oklahoma City’s grip on the No. 1 seed. Even after losing two of the last three, the Thunder sit four games clear of the Nuggets and Spurs in second. Then come the Lakers, Rockets and Timberwolves to complete the conference’s loaded top six.

“What it says is the West is unbelievable,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after his team’s 115-101 loss to the Rockets on Saturday at Ball Arena. “The fact that the two teams you saw play today are not even close to the one seed right now just says everything about our conference.”

Sure, San Antonio’s been impressive, but the Spurs still need some playoff seasoning, much like the Thunder did a few years ago. The Lakers and Timberwolves are tricky, but neither team can ask Denver the same kind of questions as the Rockets, who have a good combination of top-end talent and depth. The intensity of Saturday’s game wasn’t just a factor of it being the third meeting between the two teams in the last month.

“I love it. You’re coming in here playing a championship organization with arguably, in my opinion, one of the top 10, five players that I’ve ever seen play basketball,” Rockets star Kevin Durant said. “That’s how much respect I have for these dudes that I want to get up and bring that energy, bring that fight.”

After Denver won each of the first two meetings by three points, Houston punched back by handing the Nuggets their most lopsided loss of the season. The fourth meeting will be carried by ESPN on March 11 and will be appointment viewing for multiple reasons. Denver will be looking to secure the season tiebreaker with a win. Bruce Brown and Durant will have an opportunity to continue their extended conversation from Saturday, and it’s likely the Rockets and Nuggets will be competing for home-court advantage should they meet in the second round.

“It’s just such a competitive conference. It’s really going to be a race of who can stay steady but also who can just stay healthy,” Adelman said.

“Everybody’s just crossing their fingers that they can get to the end of this marathon, get into the tournament and have their full roster available, because you’re going to need everybody in this conference, as you saw tonight. Houston is a load. They’re tough to beat.”

The Nuggets have done it twice, but having another chance to win a championship will likely require four more wins against their new rival.

ROCKETS 115, NUGGETS 101

What happened: Houston trailed by three after the first quarter but took a 53-45 lead into halftime. Houston extended the lead to 16 to start the fourth quarter, snapped Denver’s six-game winning streak and dropped the Nuggets to 20-7 on the season.

What went right: Every fan at Ball Arena went home with a “Give the Quesarito a chance” T-shirt courtesy of Taco Bell. Nikola Jokic has boycotted the fast-food chain since his draft selection was announced during a commercial promoting the item that just returned to the menu.

What went wrong: The Rockets went 10 for 18 from 3-point range in the first half with Kevin Durant going 3 for 3 and Josh Okogie going 3 for 4. Denver went 5 for 15 from distance in the first two quarters.

Highlight of the day: Cam Johnson just missed a poster dunk Thursday against Orlando. He got one a couple of days later when he drove and threw down a one-handed dunk over Rockets center Steven Adams in the middle of the third quarter. Johnson went on to complete the 3-point play.

Up next: The Nuggets conclude a four-game homestand against the Jazz on Monday.