In a game that wasn’t competitive from the opening tipoff, the young and rebuilding Rockets were no match for the Western Conference’s second-best team in Wednesday’s 120-100 loss (box score) at the Denver Nuggets.
Alperen Sengun led Houston (5-16) with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes, shooting 8-of-12 (66.7%) overall.
Jamal Murray led Denver (14-7) with 26 points in 31 minutes on 9-of-15 shooting (60.0%), including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic added 17 points, 9 rebounds and a game-high 12 assists, shooting 7-of-9 from the field (77.8%).
“I was disappointed with how we began the game,” said head coach Stephen Silas, whose team was outscored in an overwhelming first quarter, 44-24. “Against teams like this, you can’t ease into these games. You’ve got to come in with a defensive mindset, a hard-play mindset, a together mindset. We were even the rest of the game, but when you start like that, it’s hard to win.”
Kevin Porter Jr. had a team-high 23 points and 5 assists for the Rockets, making 5-of-7 from 3-point range (71,4%). However, he made only 3-of-11 (27.3%) from inside the arc. Jalen Green had 16 points on just 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%) and 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%).
Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. continued his recent shooting surge with 13 points, making 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50%).
Read on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews from Denver. Houston finishes its four-game Western Conference road trip with a tough back-to-back on Friday and Saturday at Phoenix and Golden State. Tipoffs are at 8 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
Only 2 fast break points for Houston tonight compared to 21 for Denver. Just not able to generate many stops and get out and run. 106-79 with 9 minutes to go in this one. Rockets on their way to 5-16 — Suns, Warriors and 76ers up next.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 1, 2022
It says a good deal about how dreadful the Rockets first half was that cutting the Denver lead to 19 feels like an accomplishment. But it was a considerable improvement.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 1, 2022
Coach Silas is getting out coached in the first half…I hope he makes the necessary adjustments at the half…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 1, 2022
#Rockets down to 44-24 to Nuggets after one.
Silver lining? Nowhere to go but up.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 1, 2022
Giving up nearly 50 points in a quarter to a team you played 2 days ago is…..something. https://t.co/EMXXer8Ijd
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 1, 2022
Rockets look like they are stuck in mud
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 1, 2022
Jokic has been masterful as a playmaker but the Rockets defense is taking away … will get back to you when it takes something away.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 1, 2022
Sengun is trying to do way too much
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 1, 2022
#Rockets lose again and fall to 5-16. Pretty brutal loss tonight much like the MIL game earlier in the year. Wire to wire domination.
Rockets might not win again until the Dec 8 SAS game
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) December 1, 2022
(He’d actually be a nice veteran presence for this team to currently have) https://t.co/4Z4aDHXJ3D
— Adam Abramson (@Adam_Abramson1) December 1, 2022
Stephen Silas on tonight’s loss to the Nuggets. #LightTheFuse pic.twitter.com/dozQg4s7TL
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 1, 2022
#Rockets @jabarismithjr the chase down block on Aaron Gordon@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/0oYGfwNKhK
— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 1, 2022
Another strong night for #Rockets Alperen Sengun@alperennsengun finishes the night vs Denver with
🏀18 PTS 🏀8-12 FG 🏀11 REB🏀@HoustonRockets on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/O1Ymn2bjvV— AT&T SportsNet™ | SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 1, 2022
