Nuggets Edge Rockets in Amazon Prime Exclusive Emirates NBA Cup Game
Nov, 23 2025
The Denver Nuggets edged out the Houston Rockets 112-109 in a nail-biting contest on Friday, November 21, 2025 — but you couldn’t watch it on TV. Not ESPN. Not TNT. Not even their regional network, Altitude Sports. The game streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, marking another seismic shift in how America watches basketball. Played at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, the matchup was part of the Emirates NBA CupToyota Center, the NBA’s bold new mid-season tournament. And for the first time ever, Amazon held exclusive streaming rights to all 67 of these games — no cable, no local broadcasts, just a Prime subscription.
Why This Game Wasn’t on Your TV
The National Basketball Association — headquartered in New York, New York — quietly restructured its media rights deal in 2025, signing a $1.1 billion per season agreement with Amazon.com, Inc.. That deal didn’t just give Amazon highlights or overflow games. It handed them the entire Emirates NBA Cup, a tournament designed to inject excitement into the middle of the grind. For fans used to catching games on Altitude Sports or Space City Home Network, this was a shock. No more local ads, no more regional blackouts — just a single, corporate gatekeeper.The time confusion? That’s easy. The Altitude Plus schedule listed 7:30 PM CT. AM1300 The Zone said 9:30 p.m. ET. Turns out, the latter was wrong — Houston’s in Central Time, so 7:30 p.m. CT = 8:30 p.m. ET. The 9:30 p.m. ET listing likely included a pre-game show that didn’t actually count as game time. Small error. Big consequence: fans tuned in late, thinking the game hadn’t started.
On the Court: Jokić’s Masterclass and Sheppard’s Fight
The game itself? A classic. Nikola Jokić, the 6’11” Serbian phenom, turned in a near-triple-double: 34 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists. He didn’t need to score every time — he just made everyone else better. Jamal Murray added 26 points and 10 assists, slicing through Houston’s defense like a surgeon. For the Rockets, rookie Reed Sheppard stole the spotlight. The 21-year-old from Cincinnati dropped 27 points, including five three-pointers, keeping Houston alive until the final seconds. He didn’t win — but he announced himself.When the buzzer sounded, the Nuggets improved to 12-3, sitting second in the Western Conference. The Rockets fell to 10-4, tied with San Antonio for second in the Southwest Division. The difference? A half-game. One possession. One missed free throw. That’s how thin the line is.
Who Lost More: Fans or Networks?
This isn’t just about streaming. It’s about access. Regional sports networks — once the lifeblood of local basketball fandom — are being sidelined. For decades, fans in Denver could tune into Altitude Sports and feel connected to their team. Now? That’s gone. Same in Houston. And it’s not just about the game. It’s about the pre-game analysis, the locker room interviews, the local commercials that made you feel part of something. All of it’s now bundled into a global platform with no local flavor.Amazon doesn’t care if you’re from Lubbock or Littleton. They care if you pay $14.99 a month. And if you don’t? You’re locked out. The NBA says this expands global reach. But for fans without Prime, it’s exclusion disguised as innovation.
What’s Next? More Exclusives, Fewer Choices
The Nuggets’ next game — against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, November 22, 2025 — returns to Altitude Sports. Good news for Colorado. But the Rockets’ next game on Sunday, November 23, 2025? No broadcast details released yet. That’s the new norm: uncertainty. You don’t know where a game will be until the day before. And if it’s part of the Emirates NBA Cup? You better have Prime.The league’s next move? More tournaments. More exclusives. More deals with tech giants. The NBA is becoming less a league and more a content engine. And the price of admission? Not just your money. Your attention. Your loyalty. Your local identity.
Behind the Scenes: The Rise of the Tech Giant
Why Amazon? Because they don’t just stream. They own the ecosystem. Fire TV. Alexa. Prime membership. Even the delivery truck outside your house. The NBA didn’t just sell rights — it sold access to a lifestyle. Amazon doesn’t need to make money from ads on the game. They make money when you stay subscribed because you watch basketball. It’s a lock-in strategy, perfected.Meanwhile, traditional networks are scrambling. ESPN still holds national rights to some games. TNT has its marquee Friday night slots. But the Cup? Entirely Amazon’s. And with the league’s revenue now tied to tech giants, the future of local broadcasting looks less like a broadcast and more like a download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Rockets vs. Nuggets game only on Amazon Prime Video?
The game was part of the Emirates NBA Cup, a new mid-season tournament where Amazon holds exclusive streaming rights to all 67 games under a $1.1 billion per season deal with the NBA. Traditional TV networks like ESPN, TNT, or regional channels like Altitude Sports were excluded from these matchups, forcing fans to subscribe to Amazon Prime to watch.
How much does it cost to watch NBA games on Amazon Prime Video?
As of 2025, an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. This includes access to all Emirates NBA Cup games, plus free shipping, Prime Video originals, and other perks. There’s no standalone NBA-only subscription — you must pay for the full Prime package to access the games.
Are regional sports networks dead because of this?
Not entirely — but they’re under serious pressure. Networks like Altitude Sports and Space City Home Network still broadcast non-Cup games. But with the NBA shifting high-profile matchups to streaming, these networks risk losing viewership, advertising revenue, and relevance. Many are now partnering with streaming platforms to stay viable.
Can I watch the game without Amazon Prime?
Not legally. The NBA explicitly blocked all other platforms for Emirates Cup games. Some fans used VPNs or unofficial streams, but those are unreliable and violate copyright. The only official alternatives were the NBA App (with a separate subscription) or watching in person at the arena — neither practical for most.
What’s the impact on players and team loyalty?
Players like Reed Sheppard and Nikola Jokić still connect with fans through social media, but the emotional bond with local broadcasters — announcers who’ve followed them for years — is fading. Fans who grew up with a team’s voice on the radio now have to navigate a global app. That disconnect could erode long-term loyalty, especially among older demographics.
Will other leagues follow the NBA’s lead?
Already are. The NHL’s Winter Classic and select regular-season games have started testing exclusive streaming deals. MLB is considering similar models for its new regular-season tournament. The trend is clear: tech companies want control over live sports. Broadcasters want to survive. Fans just want to watch the game — and they’re starting to feel like they’re paying twice.