Kofi Inkoom
The Houston Rockets clinched their sixth consecutive victory with a hard-fought 107-104 win against the Denver Nuggets.
Coach Ime Udoka acknowledged the challenge of defending the Nuggets’ star, Nikola Jokić, suggesting that teams must “pick their poison.”
In this case, the Rockets allowed Jokić to shine in scoring, a strategy that paid off as they secured their sixth straight win.
Jokić led all scorers with an impressive 36 points, along with 21 rebounds and 11 assists. Despite his stellar performance, the Rockets improved their record to 6-3.
Jokić’s early dominance in the first quarter gave the Nuggets a lead, but the Rockets took advantage during his absence and gained momentum with an 8-0 run.
The Rockets continued to compete, winning the third quarter narrowly. Fred VanVleet played a crucial role by scoring six consecutive points in the final quarter, extending Houston’s lead to 89-82.
While the Rockets initially led 98-92 with three minutes left, the Nuggets mounted a comeback, closing the gap to 103-102 after a three-pointer by Jokić.
VanVleet, with 26 points, had his second consecutive 20-point game, and Alperen Sengun contributed significantly with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The Sengoon Show aired live from Toyota Center tonight 🍿 pic.twitter.com/wUpHPItUwM
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 13, 2023
The Rockets wrapped up their seven-game homestand with an impressive 6-1 record, their only loss coming against the Golden State Warriors.
Looking ahead, they will enjoy a four-day break before embarking on a three-game west coast road trip, facing the Clippers, Lakers, and Warriors on consecutive nights.