Houston Rockets @ Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Game ID: 22300263
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 41 35 32 26 134HOU 26 33 38 27 124
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
Jokic's triple-double lifts Nuggets past Rockets 134-124 in Murray's return
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, Michael Porter Jr . scored a season-high 30 points and the Denver Nuggets rolled past the Houston Rockets 134-124 on Wednesday night in Jamal Murray 's return from a hamstring injury.
Murray scored 16 points after missing Denver’s past 11 games. After starting 6-1 with Murray available, the Nuggets were just 6-5 without their point guard.
His presence led Denver to one of its best offensive outings of the season, with 19 made 3-pointers and 37 assists to just three turnovers.
“One of the security guards said, ‘Hey, great win tonight.’ I said it was a great outcome,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "I wouldn’t call it a great win. It was a great outcome.”
It was the third consecutive win for the NBA champion Nuggets, who had lost four of five before their current streak.
Jokic, who was sidelined with a lower back injury in a win Monday at the Los Angeles Clippers, recorded his seventh triple-double of the season. Entering the night, all other NBA players had combined for just eight triple-doubles.
“This is pretty easy basketball when you’ve got someone that good with the floater, but also that good at passing," said Porter, who had 10 rebounds and made seven of his 12 3s.
Denver had lost twice to the Rockets in November, including a 19-point loss in Houston five days earlier. The Nuggets improved their NBA-best home record to 9-0 while dropping the Rockets to 0-7 on the road.
While Murray returned, Denver was without forward Aaron Gordon , who missed his third consecutive game with a strained right heel.
Welcomed with a roaring “He’s back!” from the public address announcer and a hearty ovation from the home crowd before tip-off, Murray injured his ankle after he came down awkwardly on a missed contested shot at the rim two minutes into the game and walked gingerly back to the bench after a Nuggets timeout. He immediately returned out of the timeout and finished with 22 minutes played, though he described his ankle injury as “frustrating.”
“The hamstring’s fine," Murray said. "I’ve worked enough to get it back to strength. Now, it’s just another thing. I’ve got to work on that and hopefully I’ll be ready.”
After that initial scare, his team had little reason to worry the rest of the night.
Led by 12 points from Porter, the Nuggets scored a season-high 41 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 19 in the period. Denver never trailed and led by double digits for all but the opening 4:16 against a Houston team that was playing the second night of a back-to-back after a loss Tuesday night at the Dallas Mavericks .
“We just woke up pretty late," Rockets guard Jalen Green said. "If we started off a little bit better, it would have been a different story.”
Green paced the Rockets with 26 points, including 18 in a third quarter in which he made all six of his field goals and all four of his 3s. Alperen Sengun added 22 points for Houston, which lost for the fifth time in seven games following a surprise 6-3 start.
The Rockets were without guard Fred VanVleet , the team’s third-leading scorer and $130 million offseason acquisition, who was sidelined with a sprained left thumb.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJoMuJr 6 21 +12 8 12 67 5 6 83 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 1 0 0 0
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr.
in Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr.
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJaJoJr 1 7 +5 3 3 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić, Porter Jr.
in Jackson
out Murray
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaJaJoNnJr 1 2 0 1 2 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Jackson, Jokić, Nnaji, Porter Jr.
in Nnaji
out Holiday
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJaJoNnSt 5 12 -5 6 9 67 2 2 100 0 2 0 1 1 2 3 0 0 1 0
DEN Braun, Jackson, Jordan, Nnaji, Strawther
in Braun, Jordan, Strawther
out Caldwell-Pope, Jokić, Porter Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JaJoMuJrSt 1 0 -6 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DEN Jackson, Jordan, Murray, Porter Jr., Strawther
in Murray, Porter Jr.
out Braun, Nnaji
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoJoMuJrSt 1 7 +5 3 4 75 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
DEN Holiday, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr., Strawther
in Holiday, Jokić
out Jackson, Jordan
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJoMuJr 4 14 0 5 10 50 1 3 33 3 3 100 3 3 6 4 0 0 0 3
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr.
in Caldwell-Pope
out Strawther
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJaJoJr 3 8 +1 3 7 43 1 2 50 0 0 0 2 1 3 3 0 0 0 2
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić, Porter Jr.
in Jackson
out Murray
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrCaJaJoJr :50 3 +3 1 1 100 1 1 100 1 3 33 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
DEN Braun, Caldwell-Pope, Jackson, Jokić, Porter Jr.
in Braun
out Holiday
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJoMuJr 6 16 +1 7 10 70 2 4 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 1
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr.
in Holiday, Murray
out Braun, Jackson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJaJoJr 2 4 -1 1 2 50 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić, Porter Jr.
in Jackson
out Murray
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
CaHoJaJoNn 1 5 +2 1 1 100 0 0 0 2 2 100 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0
DEN Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić, Nnaji
in Nnaji
out Porter Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrCaJaJoNn 2 0 -7 0 4 0 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
DEN Braun, Caldwell-Pope, Jackson, Jokić, Nnaji
in Braun
out Holiday
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJaNnJrSt 1 7 0 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2
DEN Braun, Jackson, Nnaji, Porter Jr., Strawther
in Porter Jr., Strawther
out Caldwell-Pope, Jokić
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMuNnJrSt 3 5 +2 2 9 22 0 3 0 1 2 50 2 5 7 2 1 0 0 2
DEN Braun, Murray, Nnaji, Porter Jr., Strawther
in Murray
out Jackson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoMuJrSt :46 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
DEN Braun, Jokić, Murray, Porter Jr., Strawther
in Jokić
out Nnaji
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrCaJaJoJr 2 8 +3 3 5 60 2 3 67 0 0 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 0
DEN Braun, Caldwell-Pope, Jackson, Jokić, Porter Jr.
in Caldwell-Pope, Jackson
out Murray, Strawther
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrCaHoJaJo 2 8 +3 1 1 100 1 1 100 5 6 83 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 1
DEN Braun, Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić
in Holiday
out Porter Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
GiKeNnPiTy 3 3 -9 1 4 25 0 2 0 1 2 50 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 2
DEN Gillespie, Key, Nnaji, Pickett, Tyson
in Gillespie, Key, Nnaji, Pickett, Tyson
out Braun, Caldwell-Pope, Holiday, Jackson, Jokić
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoBrGrSeJr 6 9 -12 4 9 44 1 4 25 0 0 0 1 1 2 4 0 0 2 1
HOU A. Holiday, Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in A. Holiday, Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoBrJrLaJr 1 2 -5 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
HOU A. Holiday, Brooks, Bullock Jr., Landale, Smith Jr.
in Bullock Jr., Landale
out Ja. Green, Sengun
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrGrLaJr 1 2 0 1 2 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
HOU Brooks, Bullock Jr., Ja. Green, Landale, Smith Jr.
in Ja. Green
out A. Holiday
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoJrEaGrJr 3 13 +4 5 7 71 3 3 100 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1
HOU A. Holiday, Bullock Jr., Eason, Je. Green, Smith Jr.
in A. Holiday, Eason, Je. Green
out Brooks, Ja. Green, Landale
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrEaGrGrSe 4 12 +2 5 9 56 2 4 50 0 0 0 2 3 5 2 1 0 0 1
HOU Bullock Jr., Eason, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun
in Ja. Green, Sengun
out A. Holiday, Smith Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoBrGrSeJr 4 11 -1 4 7 57 2 3 67 1 2 50 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 1
HOU A. Holiday, Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in A. Holiday, Brooks, Smith Jr.
out Bullock Jr., Eason, Je. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoBrGrSeJr 4 7 -4 3 10 30 0 6 0 1 1 100 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 2
HOU A. Holiday, Brooks, Je. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in Je. Green
out Ja. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoBrGrSeJr 7 20 0 8 10 80 2 4 50 2 2 100 0 4 4 6 0 0 2 3
HOU A. Holiday, Brooks, Ja. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in Ja. Green
out Je. Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoEaGrSeJr 1 3 -2 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
HOU A. Holiday, Eason, Ja. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in Eason
out Brooks
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoEaGrGrLa 3 11 +9 4 5 80 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 4 4 2 0 1 0 1
HOU A. Holiday, Eason, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Landale
in Je. Green, Landale
out Sengun, Smith Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoEaGrGrLa 1 0 -2 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
HOU A. Holiday, Eason, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Landale
in ---
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoEaGrGrJr 3 5 0 1 4 25 0 2 0 3 4 75 1 2 3 0 0 4 1 2
HOU A. Holiday, Eason, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Smith Jr.
in Smith Jr.
out Landale
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HoGrGrSeJr 2 5 -3 1 3 33 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
HOU A. Holiday, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
in Sengun
out Eason
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
HiLaJrWhWi 6 17 +7 6 10 60 2 5 40 3 4 75 1 4 5 3 1 0 0 4
HOU Hinton, Landale, Samuels Jr., Whitmore, Williams
in Hinton, Landale, Samuels Jr., Whitmore, Williams
out A. Holiday, Ja. Green, Je. Green, Sengun, Smith Jr.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Samuels Jr.
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
NH N. Hinton
NW N. Williams
RB R. Bullock Jr.
TE T. Eason
DENBK B. Key
CB C. Braun
CG C. Gillespie
DJ D. Jordan
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
HOU/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur