NBA: Rockets beat Nuggets for 1st highway win

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka, proper, confers with guard Jalen Inexperienced throughout a break in play within the first half of the crew’s NBA basketball recreation in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Picture/David Zalubowski)

DENVER — Jalen Inexperienced scored 26 factors, Fred VanVleet had 25 and the Houston Rockets withstood a livid Denver rally to beat the Nuggets 114-106 on Friday evening for his or her first highway win of the NBA season.

Houston dropped its first eight video games on the highway earlier than handing Denver its first loss at residence in 10 video games. The Nuggets have dropped three in a row whereas NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic continues to wrestle together with his shot. He completed with 23 factors and 16 rebounds however was 9 for 26 from the sector and is eighteen of 58 during the last two video games.

“I took pictures I all the time take,” Jokic stated. “I didn’t shoot any loopy pictures, the ball simply didn’t need to go in.”

Alperen Sengun had 17 factors and 10 rebounds and Dillon Brooks scored 16 for the Rockets, who almost squandered a 25-point lead within the fourth quarter. They missed their final 11 pictures from the sector over the ultimate 8:26 and went greater than six minutes with out scoring after main 103-78.

READ: NBA: Nikola Jokic’s triple-double lifts Nuggets previous Rockets

Denver ran off 18 straight factors to get inside 103-96 late however Houston scored its remaining 11 factors from the foul line to carry on.

“It goes a good distance,” Brooks stated of ending the highway frustration. “It offers us confidence and reassurance that we are able to win on the highway, and determine learn how to win on the highway with all the pieces going haywire within the fourth quarter.”

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, entrance, collects a free ball as middle Alperen Sengun,left, and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray observe the play in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball recreation Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Picture/David Zalubowski)

Jamal Murray scored 21 factors and Michael Porter Jr. had 20 for the Nuggets.

“We had been attempting to not get embarrassed,” Jokic stated of the fourth-quarter rally. “We had our backs to the wall and we simply needed to combat. Possibly we have to have that from the start.

“Hopefully it will probably assist us simply to be taught from it and get higher from it.”

Jokic was 9 of 32 from the sector in Wednesday evening’s loss on the Los Angeles Clippers and missed his first 5 pictures Friday evening. He lastly received one to go, a driving layup with 5:12 left within the second quarter, after which missed his subsequent 4 makes an attempt to complete the half 1 for 10.

The 21-year-old Sengun was joyful together with his protection on the two-time MVP.

“Usually he makes all of these onerous pictures,” Sengun stated. “It wasn’t his day however I did a terrific job, I believe.”

Jokic discovered average success within the third quarter when he made 4 pictures however the Rockets, led by Inexperienced’s 10 factors, pulled away. VanVleet, who missed the crew’s loss in Denver on Nov. 29, and Jae’Sean Tate hit 3-pointers to shut out the interval and provides Houston a 92-74 lead.

Rockets veteran Jeff Inexperienced obtained his 2023 championship ring earlier than the sport, greater than per week after he was presupposed to be honored as a part of the Nuggets’ title crew. Denver confirmed a minute-long video of Inexperienced’s highlights from his two seasons with the Nuggets.

UP NEXT FOR ROCKETS, NUGGETS

Rockets: Will host San Antonio on Monday evening.

Nuggets: Play at Atlanta on Monday evening.