Overview
- The Rockets beat the Nuggets 110-100 on Monday to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 8-3 while Denver fell to 5-4.
- Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün drove the win with a combined 43 points, 16 assists and 24 rebounds as their pick-and-roll actions created repeated 4-on-3 scoring chances.
- Houston’s small-ball looks and bench production paid off when Şengün rested, with Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and the Rockets finishing plus-13 in that lineup and outscoring Denver in key stretches.
- The Rockets dominated the glass 51-39 with 15 offensive rebounds and a 24-11 advantage in second-chance points, a rebound edge that turned extra opportunities into the decisive margin.
- Jamal Murray scored 38 and Nikola Jokic had a near triple-double, but Denver got little help from role players and elected to play starters after a Mexico City trip, while Houston targets Nov. 15–16 for the returns of Steven Adams and Clint Capela.