Game ID: 22301224
Houston Rockets @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 22 26 26 32 106HOU 27 25 40 22 114
DEN vs HOU ScoutingDEN vs HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 11 since 11/06, returns tonight: 22 min (69% of 33)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (167% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 23 min since (212% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 32 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 17 min since (159% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 33 min (101% of 32)
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 16 min since (150% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 29 min (89% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 33 min since (101% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 15 min since (138% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 32 min since (99% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 24 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
DEN availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (91% of 32)
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 28 min since (86% of 33)
NEW Strawther 11 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Thompson missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 8 since 11/08, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 9 since 11/08, returns tonight: 6 min (31% of 19)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 14 min (100% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Thompson missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 6 min since (31% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 14 min since (100% of 14)
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Thompson missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 14 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/29 after 9, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Landale back 11/29 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
NEW Holiday 16 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Thompson missed 15 since 11/04, returns tonight: 10 min (46% of 22)
OUT Whitmore missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/06, returns tonight: 10 min (76% of 14)
BACK Thompson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (46% of 22)
NEW Holiday 16 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (46% of 22)
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Jackson at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thompson (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 9. Call it Denver 113, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
11/29 vs HOU 134-124 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-124. DEN shot 51% (48 of 95) to HOU's 55%, 19 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. DEN turned it over 3 times to HOU's 8. Jokić led with 32 (12 of 19, 7 of 8 at the line); Porter Jr. added 30, Murray 16. The hinge was Q1, 41-26: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/01 @ PHX 119-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 119-111. DEN shot 57% (50 of 88) to PHX's 46%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 12 times to PHX's 26. The glass went 32-43 against them. Jokić led with 21 (9 of 18, 0 of 3 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Jackson added 20, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
12/02 @ SAC 117-123 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-123. DEN shot 49% (49 of 99) to SAC's 48%, 6 of 25 from three. Jokić led with 36 (13 of 23, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Jackson added 20, Gordon 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Jordan's -17 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ LAC 102-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 102-111. DEN took 11 more shots (98 to 87), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAC's 46%, 12 of 31 from three, and got to the line just 9 times against 20 fouls committed. Murray led with 23 (10 of 18, 2 of 7 from three); Jokić added 22, Porter Jr. 18. Q1 was theirs, 36-21, but the other 3 periods went 90-66 against them. They led by as many as 15. Braun's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs HOU 106-114 — DEN notes
DEN lost 106-114. DEN took 8 more shots (90 to 82), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to HOU's 43%, 10 of 28 from three, and got to the line 27 times to HOU's 42. Jokić led with 23 (9 of 26, 4 of 7 at the line); Murray added 21, Porter Jr. 20. Q4 was theirs, 32-22, the deficit cut from 18 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 92-74 against them. Caldwell-Pope's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Johnson (6 straight), Fernando (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 117 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Atlanta 119, Denver 118, Denver keeping it close.
12/12 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 28 and White at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without LaVine (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-8 a night and Denver minus-1 and the arc, Chicago at 43 percent from three to Denver's 36. Call it Chicago 116, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
12/14 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. Without Simmons (16 straight), Smith Jr. (3 straight), Walker IV (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Denver 115, Brooklyn 114, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/16 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Jokić at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-9 and the defense, Denver allowing 111 a night to OKC's 123. Call it Denver 118, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
11/28 @ DAL 115-121 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-121. HOU shot 49% (42 of 85) to DAL's 47%, 8 of 29 from three. HOU turned it over 12 times to DAL's 7. Sengun led with 31 (10 of 19, 11 of 14 at the line); Smith Jr. added 16, Brooks 16. Q3 was theirs, 38-30, turning a 4-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. VanVleet's -12 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 @ DEN 124-134 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-134. HOU shot 55% (47 of 86) to DEN's 51%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 26. HOU turned it over 8 times to DEN's 3. Ja. Green led with 26 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sengun added 22, Smith Jr. 15. Q3 was theirs, 38-32, the deficit cut from 17 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 102-86 against them. Smith Jr.'s -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 @ LAL 97-107 — HOU notes
HOU lost 97-107. HOU shot 40% (36 of 89) to LAL's 45%, 11 of 31 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAL's 27. HOU turned it over 16 times to LAL's 9, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. VanVleet led with 22 (7 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Sengun added 21, Holiday 11. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 82-67 against them. VanVleet's -22 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 vs OKC 110-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 110-101. HOU shot 48% (40 of 83) to OKC's 43%, 15 of 33 from three. HOU turned it over 19 times to OKC's 8, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 53-30 for them. Brooks led with 23 (9 of 17, 2 of 7 from three); Holiday added 22, Sengun 21. The hinge was Q1, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/08 @ DEN 114-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-106. HOU shot 43% (35 of 82) to DEN's 42%, 13 of 39 from three, and went to the line 42 times to DEN's 27 — 31 points from the stripe to their 20. VanVleet led with 26 (6 of 17, 4 of 10 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Ja. Green added 25, Sengun 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-26: a lead of 4 became 18, and the lead reached 25. A. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/11 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (15 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 19 and Vassell at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 123. Call it Houston 118, San Antonio 110.
12/13 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and VanVleet at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Whitmore (3 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Bane at 30 and Jackson Jr. at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morant (22 straight), Smart (11 straight), Jackson (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Memphis's 17. Call it Houston 112, Memphis 105.
12/15 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 33 and Bane at 30 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Morant (23 straight), Smart (12 straight), Jackson (8 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 100, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; VanVleet at 17 and Sengun at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Memphis minus-10 and the defense, Houston allowing 100 a night to Memphis's 116. Call it Houston 111, Memphis 106.
12/17 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 137 a night and allowing 124, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 33 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 38 and Lillard at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Crowder (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 98, shooting 41 percent and 37 from three, 31 free throws a game; VanVleet at 16 and Brooks at 16 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Thompson (2 straight), Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 98 a night to Milwaukee's 124 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Milwaukee plus-1. Call it Milwaukee 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
TE T. Eason
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JH J. Holiday
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
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
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
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
Green scores 26 as Rockets beat Nuggets 114-106 for 1st road win
DENVER -- — Jalen Green scored 26 points, Fred VanVleet had 25 and the Houston Rockets withstood a furious Denver rally to beat the Nuggets 114-106 on Friday night for their first road win of the season.
Houston dropped its first eight games on the road before handing Denver its first loss at home in 10 games. The Nuggets have dropped three in a row while NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic continues to struggle with his shot. He finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds but was 9 for 26 from the field and is 18 of 58 over the last two games.
“I took shots I always take,” Jokic said. “I didn’t shoot any crazy shots, the ball just didn’t want to go in.”
Alperen Sengun had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Dillon Brooks scored 16 for the Rockets, who nearly squandered a 25-point lead in the fourth quarter. They missed their last 11 shots from the field over the final 8:26 and went more than six minutes without scoring after leading 103-78.
Denver ran off 18 straight points to get within 103-96 late but Houston scored its final 11 points from the foul line to hold on.
“It goes a long way,” Brooks said of ending the road frustration. “It gives us confidence and reassurance that we can win on the road, and figure out how to win on the road with everything going haywire in the fourth quarter.”
Jamal Murray scored 21 points and Michael Porter Jr . had 20 for the Nuggets.
“We were trying to not get embarrassed,” Jokic said of the fourth-quarter rally. “We had our backs to the wall and we just wanted to fight. Maybe we need to have that from the beginning.
“Hopefully it can help us just to learn from it and get better from it.”
Jokic was 9 of 32 from the field in Wednesday night’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers and missed his first five shots Friday night. He finally got one to go, a driving layup with 5:12 left in the second quarter, and then missed his next four attempts to finish the half 1 for 10.
The 21-year-old Sengun was happy with his defense on the two-time MVP.
“Normally he makes all of those hard shots,” Sengun said. “It wasn’t his day but I did a great job, I think.”
Jokic found moderate success in the third quarter when he made four shots but the Rockets, led by Green’s 10 points, pulled away. VanVleet, who missed the team’s loss in Denver on Nov. 29, and Jae’Sean Tate hit 3-pointers to close out the period and give Houston a 92-74 lead.
Rockets veteran Jeff Green received his 2023 championship ring before the game, more than a week after he was supposed to be honored as part of the Nuggets’ title team. Denver showed a minute-long video of Green’s highlights from his two seasons with the Nuggets.