Overview
- The Rockets moved to 8-3 with a 110-100 victory over Denver on Monday that snapped a two-game skid.
- Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün carried the attack with nearly identical lines as Durant had 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists and Şengün had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
- Houston tweaked the two-man action by having Durant attack to pull Nikola Jokić out of the paint, having Şengün slip screens into open space, and using over-the-head pocket passes to create repeated 4-on-3 scoring chances.
- Coach Ime Udoka also went small by moving Jabari Smith Jr. to the five for stretches that were plus-13 in 13 minutes, and the Rockets outrebounded Denver 51-39 to build a 24-11 second-chance point edge.
- With Steven Adams, Clint Capela and Oscar Tshiebwe unavailable, Udoka said Capela and Adams are targeted to return around Nov. 15–16 and the team will test this lineup in upcoming nationally televised games.