In their fourth and final game versus Denver in the 2023-24 campaign, the upstart Rockets secured the regular-season series in Friday’s 114-106 win (box score) over the Nuggets (14-9). Besides taking their third game in under a month from the defending NBA champions, Houston (10-9) also secured its first road victory.
Talented third-year center Alperen Sengun had 17 points (50.0% FG), 10 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Rockets, and his defense helped limit perennial All-Star and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic to 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting just 9-of-26 from the field (34.6%). Many of those statistics came in the fourth quarter, notably after Houston had already built a 25-point buffer.
Jalen Green led Houston with an efficient 25 points, shooting 8-of-17 overall (47.1%) and 8-of-10 on free throws (80.0%). That line included 10 third-quarter points as the Rockets built up their lead and several late free throws to put the game away. Backcourt mate Fred VanVleet added a game-high 26 points, making 4-of-10 from 3-point range (40.0%) and 9-of-12 on free throws (75.0%).
Veteran wing Dillon Brooks finished with 16 points while shooting 6-of-12 overall (50.0%) and 4-of-10 on 3-pointers (40.0%).
Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews after Friday’s game in Denver, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is Monday’s home game versus San Antonio (3-18), with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.
Dec. 8 Rockets-Nuggets reaction
Rockets blowing out the Nuggets will become the first Western Conference team to win a game in Denver when Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Porter all play.
— Chad Andrus (@chadandrus) December 9, 2023
Houston was WOBBLING a week ago and this is gonna be back to back wins over OKC and the Nuggets.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) December 9, 2023
First road win loading .. I think if they can get a breakthrough here it opens the season up .. especially against a quality team that’s fully healthy
— Apathetic (@ftank58) December 9, 2023
Jalen Green is dominating the 3Q against Denver. All of the young #Rockets prospects are showing how far they’ve come tonight.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 9, 2023
SO much genuine love for Jeff Green as he receives his championship ring in Denver. @HoustonRockets @SpaceCityHN pic.twitter.com/LJSuaEvyRB
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 9, 2023
This quarter is the vision for Jalen – getting going in the flow of the game, no hero ball and no passiveness. Solid / good effort defensively.
Teammates looking for him in transition. This is also where I'm excited to see Amen play with Jalen.
Arrow is trending up – dont…
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) December 9, 2023
Aaron Holiday was a career 38% 3P shooter entering this season.
He's at 43% and counting this year with the Ben Sullivan boost.
Even if he regresses little, having a steady sniper as a backup PG is really helpful.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) December 9, 2023
LET’S GO!!! https://t.co/iF1dDJkQkJ
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) December 9, 2023
Jamal Murray just got tossed by the same official that ejected Ime Udoka last week.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 9, 2023
Rockets clinch tiebreaker over Nuggets, again, 3-1.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) December 9, 2023
So…yeah.
Can the Rockets hang on? Young team trying to close against the champs on the road. Finally snapped an 18-0 Nuggets run. https://t.co/NibQiJeIZD
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 9, 2023
Baby Nuggets escape by the skin of their teeth to beat the Nuggets. All three young guys with good games. Finally secured the long awaited road win.
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) December 9, 2023
Rockets' 31 free throws on 42 attempts both season highs.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 9, 2023
Little bit of a playoff feel – what happens when you play a team 4x in one month.
Just get sick of them, especially when the little brother takes 3 of 4. https://t.co/Ravrmu4oQ1
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) December 9, 2023
THE STREAK
IS OVER. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/xp9IOiwfqg
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) December 9, 2023
The curse is broken. Rockets get their first road win of the season, in Denver for good measure.
Not the first time this season that Udoka has trusted Tari Eason down the stretch of a big game. Super important to Houston’s setup. https://t.co/cEDZB34wSG
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 9, 2023
Denver 9-0 at home. Houston 0-8 on the road.
FINAL: Rockets 114, Nuggets 106.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 9, 2023
Rockets get their 1st road win of the season, beating the defending NBA champion Nuggets in Denver 114-106. They had been unbeaten at home.
Rockets have won 3 of 4 from Denver. They also own a win over OKC. Rockets are 10-9 & while it’s early, Ime Udoka is doing a fabulous job pic.twitter.com/sjECGaejea
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) December 9, 2023
Sengun tonight:
17 PTS
10 REB
7 AST3-1 against Jokic this season. https://t.co/TFCEe6nmlN
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 9, 2023
#Rockets beat the Nuggets 114-106
Alperen Sengun 🏀17 PTS🏀10 REB🏀7 AST🏀
Our @SportsVanessa talked with @alperennsengun after the WIN@HoustonRockets on Space City Home Network pic.twitter.com/C8XevDo2gr
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 9, 2023
Jalen Green has been our leading scorer 9x of our 19 games, most of any one on our roster.
Rockets have 7 of their 10 wins in those Jalen games.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) December 9, 2023
Not many times you can say someone outplayed the MVP and it not be a joke. Tonight Alperen Sengun absolutely outplayed Nikola Jokic in his building. Sengun held Jokic to 9-26 with 3 turnovers while only being 3 assists away from a triple double himself. pic.twitter.com/VaMg0BSy26
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) December 9, 2023
Beating the Nuggets at full strength on the road is the Rockets best win since game 7 against OKC in the Bubble
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 9, 2023
https://t.co/ffy0z525ms pic.twitter.com/H9hqE8SXEj
— David Weiner #🟦 (@BimaThug) December 9, 2023
Rockets have a soft 3 game slate due up next followed up by another really rough stretch, they absolutely have to take care of business against SA and Memphis
— Abel (@AbelGe87) December 9, 2023
The Rockets were dealt a very rough hand after failing to quality for the in-season tournament. The Nuggets and Thunder, 2 of the best teams in the league, both fully healthy.
Got a convincing win over both. Well done.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) December 9, 2023
And then Houston kicked their ass. https://t.co/Aq47nvz4oP
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) December 9, 2023
rockets have beat the #2 seed thunder and the fully healthy nuggets (in denver) in back to back games.
finally beating healthy good teams and won a road game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cMpnK545a5
— jeff (@DedicationHoops) December 9, 2023
Really feels like he's judged differently than other #Rockets. I get it. We want it NOW. It's coming.
Last 7 gms:
21.0 ppg (leads team)
58.4 TS%
47.4% FG (even w/the full court heave tonight)
32.1% 3pt FG
60.7% (!!!) 2pt FG
81.5% FT
4.7 reb
3.4 ast
2.6 TO's https://t.co/hc8IwtQbAy— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) December 9, 2023
Random note: Nuggets were 8-1 before they saw Houston for the first time. Just 6-8 since their first matchup
— Matthew (@12thMatthew) December 9, 2023
That was one to remember. The Rockets, 0-8 on the road before tonight, are the first Western Conference team to ever beat the Nuggets in Denver with Jokic/Murray/Gordon/Porter playing.
Denver was down 25 with 8:26 left then made an 18-0 run. Couldn’t make it all the way back.
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) December 9, 2023
I think it's a pretty simple formula, when the #Rockets get an efficient Jalen Green to go with the rest, they're a very good team.
Over his 2+ year career, that's happened disproportionately at home. Tonight was a hopeful sign vs. defending champs that he can do it on road, too https://t.co/47YXIFUS4L
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 9, 2023
#Rockets get their 1st road win of the year after a 114-106 win over Denver@HoustonRockets win the season series against the Nuggets 3-1
Dillon Brooks 16 PTS / 5 REB / 2 STL pic.twitter.com/WtToF4BLj4
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 9, 2023
“When Jalen Green realizes who he is, it’s over for the NBA.” – Ryan Hollins
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) December 9, 2023
I’m running around Denver screaming “I LOVE THE HOUSTON ROCKETS”☺️ pic.twitter.com/O64XQDgY0x
— MOMSTER “🫖” (@teroyaeason) December 9, 2023
The #Rockets next game is at home:
Against the 3-18 San Antonio Spurs who are on a 16 game losing streak 👀 pic.twitter.com/hl349Guz5w
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) December 9, 2023
The #Rockets just beat the #2 and #3 teams in the Western Conference in back to back games.
— J͞͞ D͞͞U͞͞B͞͞B͞͞ (@TheMindOfJDubb) December 9, 2023
ALPEREN SENGUN BULLIES NIKOLA JOKIC.
Your Idols become your Rivals. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/mt8YcyUm3V
— Summit State Of Mind (@SummitSOMpod) December 9, 2023
#Rockets Assist of the Week provided by Alperen Sengun to Jalen Green
Reach your financial goals with an assist from @creditkarma @HoustonRockets on Space City Home Network pic.twitter.com/Fn7TVGxBAT
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 9, 2023
The Rockets are #8 in Western Conf – but 7-4 vs. seeded West teams ahead of them in the standings
3-1 vs. Nuggets (3 seed)
1-0 vs. OKC (2 seed)
2-0 vs. Kings (5 seed)
1-2 vs. Lakers (4 seed)
0-1 vs. Mavs (6 seed)The Rockets haven't played Pistons, Bulls, Wiz, Blazers & Jazz
— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) December 9, 2023
Jabari Smith averaging 10.75 Rebounds in his last 8 games. If he was doing this over the season, he'd be #8 in the NBA pic.twitter.com/2OrO9iYPZe
— Robert Land | Houston Sports Talk Podcast Host (@HSTPodcast) December 9, 2023
#Rockets are undefeated since Ime Udoka called LeBron a soft ass boy and inquired about what further action might be taken https://t.co/5cWYxsycqO
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 9, 2023
Ugly 4th quarter. Ime has been incredible with adjustments this season, but he stuck with Uncle Jeff too long this game. My guess is he wanted to play him on a night he got his ring. But Jabari was far and away better on both sides tonight and should have been in in the 4th.
— HorryForThree (@HorryForThree) December 9, 2023
#Rockets beat the Nuggets 114-106@HoustonRockets head coach Ime Udoka met with the media after the WIN pic.twitter.com/0FEL7rM4q3
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 9, 2023
