The Houston Rockets finally put an end to their two-game skid last night, pulling off a hard-fought 110-100 win against the Denver Nuggets. It was a rollercoaster, though, because Kevin Durant dropped 23 points and Alperen Sengun added 20, but not before Houston nearly watched a massive lead evaporate right before their eyes. This was a statement win after tough losses to Minnesota and Phoenix, bringing them back on track after that fiery 7-1 start.
The Rollercoaster Ride: Up 16, Then Flatlining
Man, the Rockets started the third quarter looking like they were going to run away with it, sitting on a sweet 16-point lead. Then, out of nowhere, the Nuggets went on a ridiculous 18-2 run. Seriously, it was like the basket had a lid on it for Houston, as they missed nine consecutive shots and coughed up two turnovers. Their only points in that whole nightmare stretch came from a couple of free throws by Durant. Denver’s surge was powered by big-time threes from Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Cameron Johnson, tying the game at 60-60 with about five minutes left in the quarter. It was rough to watch. Luckily, Tari Eason finally broke the drought with a basket, Houston’s first field goal in over 6 1/2 minutes, kicking off an 11-2 run that put them back up 71-62.
Fourth Quarter Grind: Clutch Plays Keep Denver Down
The fourth quarter was a nail-biter. Jamal Murray was absolutely cooking for Denver, ending up with a monster 38 points, his fourth game this season with at least 34. He even cut the Rockets’ lead to just four points at one point, helped by a Sengun turnover. But this Houston team dug deep. Sengun hit a short basket, then Fred VanVleet buried a crucial 3-pointer, stretching the lead back to 96-87 with five and a half minutes left. Denver kept pushing, with Murray making two free throws to cut it to six, but Christian Braun missed a pair right after that, which was huge. Sengun and Amen Thompson then dropped back-to-back baskets, pushing the lead back to 100-90 with four minutes to go, and that was the dagger. Jokic chipped in 25 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to save Denver’s two-game winning streak.
So, the Rockets get the much-needed win, 110-100, putting that two-game skid behind them. This Wednesday, the Nuggets head to Memphis to face the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, our Rockets are back home, hosting Golden State. Let’s see if they can keep this momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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