DENVER — The Houston Rockets clinched a commanding 128-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, showcasing impressive performances from their key players. Jalen Green was the standout performer, scoring 34 points and sinking six 3-pointers as he maintained his scoring prowess, averaging 32 points over the past six games. His remarkable stretch includes a personal best of 42 points against the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the week.
Alperen Sengun also made significant contributions with 20 points, along with nine rebounds and eight assists. Fred VanVleet rounded out the Rockets’ offensive effort, contributing 16 points, eight assists, and three steals. With this victory, the Rockets have now emerged victorious in five of their last six contests against the Nuggets.
On the other hand, the Nuggets were missing two key figures in their lineup, as reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic was sidelined due to right elbow inflammation, and Aaron Gordon was out with a right calf injury. Despite the absence of these crucial players, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun each scored 22 points for Denver. However, the team struggled with 18 turnovers, including five from both Murray and Russell Westbrook in the starting backcourt.
In terms of their performance trends, the Rockets have now secured their fifth consecutive win and improved their record to 10-3 over their last 13 games, which puts them firmly in second place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the Nuggets had won eight of their previous ten games but experienced their largest loss since a 145-118 defeat to the New York Knicks on November 25.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Rockets initiated the second quarter with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a corner 3-pointer from former Nugget Jeff Green, which pushed Houston’s lead to 11 points. The Rockets dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 41-25 to build a substantial halftime lead of 69-48.
A noteworthy statistic from the game shows that this loss marked the Nuggets’ eighth defeat in 20 home games this season, matching their total home losses from the entire 2023-24 regular season across 41 games.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to continue their three-game road trip on Thursday against the Sacramento Kings, while the Nuggets will return to the court on Friday to face off against the Miami Heat.
