Game ID: 22300048
Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets
Friday, November 24, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 29 31 24 21 105DEN 19 24 26 17 86
DEN @ HOU ScoutingDEN @ 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.
HOU availability going into 11/17 · 4 days' restOUT Thompson missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Eason back 11/08 after 4, 16 min since (75% of 22)
NEW Tate 16 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Eason back 11/08 after 4, 17 min since (79% of 22)
HOU availability going into 11/20 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Eason back 11/08 after 4, 17 min since (79% of 22)
HOU availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/08, out tonight
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)
DEN availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 4 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 5 min since (33% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 5 min since (33% of 15)
NEW Gordon 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/20 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 6 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 9 min since (61% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 7 since 11/06, out tonight
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 8 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/20, returns tonight: 13 min (86% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 8 since 11/06, out tonight
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 9 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 9 since 11/06, returns tonight: 12 min (114% of 11)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 10 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
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
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 108 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. Without Thompson (9 straight), Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 23 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Denver's 114 and the arc, Denver at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 111, Denver 108, Denver keeping it close.
11/17 @ LAC 100-106 — HOU notes
HOU lost 100-106. HOU shot 43% (38 of 88) to LAC's 43%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAC's 30. Sengun led with 23 (8 of 18, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Ja. Green added 20, VanVleet 19. Q2 was theirs, 27-19, turning a 6-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 87-73 against them.
11/19 @ LAL 104-105 — HOU notes
HOU lost 104-105. HOU shot 49% (41 of 84) to LAL's 47%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line just 10 times against 25 fouls committed. Brooks led with 24 (9 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Sengun added 23, VanVleet 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-20, but the other 3 periods went 85-76 against them. They led by as many as 11. Eason's -18 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 @ GSW 116-121 — HOU notes
HOU lost 116-121. HOU took 18 more shots (95 to 77), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to GSW's 47%, 13 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to GSW's 33. Sengun led with 30 (13 of 23, 2 of 3 from three); Smith Jr. added 17, Brooks 16. Q4 was theirs, 35-29, the deficit cut from 11 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them. Ja. Green's -13 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs MEM 111-91 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-91. HOU shot 43% (40 of 92) to MEM's 33%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MEM's 35. Ja. Green led with 34 (13 of 26, 3 of 13 from three); Smith Jr. added 18, VanVleet 16. The hinge was Q4, 37-23: a lead of 6 became 20, and the lead reached 24. HOU trailed 45-46 at the half and won the second half 66-45. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/24 vs DEN 105-86 — HOU notes
HOU won 105-86. HOU shot 49% (40 of 82) to DEN's 34%, 12 of 29 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 21. Ja. Green led with 25 (10 of 18, 3 of 8 from three); Sengun added 21, VanVleet 17. The hinge was Q1, 29-19: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 26. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/28 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and Irving at 29 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kleber (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 21 a game. Without Thompson (10 straight), Whitmore (8 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 102 a night to Dallas's 117 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-1 a night and Dallas minus-5. Call it Dallas 112, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
11/29 @ DEN — 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 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Jackson at 18 a game. Without Murray (11 straight), Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 19 a game. Without Thompson (11 straight), Whitmore (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 38 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Denver's 111. Call it Denver 111, Houston 108, Houston keeping it close.
12/02 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 22 a game. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Vanderbilt (7 straight), Vincent (16 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 23 a game. Without Thompson (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Houston's 10 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to the Lakers' 119. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/06 vs OKC — 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 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 21 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Thompson (13 straight). 3 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 19 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where OKC takes 26 free throws a game to Houston's 20. Call it OKC 113, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
11/17 @ NOP 110-115 — DEN notes
DEN lost 110-115. DEN took 8 more shots (96 to 88), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to NOP's 52%, 10 of 40 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 20 fouls committed. The glass went 51-39 for them. Jokić led with 26 (10 of 20, 1 of 8 from three); Braun added 25, Porter Jr. 18. Q3 was theirs, 33-26, the deficit cut from 16 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 89-77 against them. Strawther's -16 in 8 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/19 @ CLE 109-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 109-121. DEN shot 48% (39 of 82) to CLE's 55%, 14 of 29 from three. The glass went 33-47 against them. Porter Jr. led with 21 (7 of 15, 5 of 9 from three); Jokić added 18, Braun 13. Q4 was theirs, 34-29, the deficit cut from 17 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 92-75 against them. Porter Jr.'s -31 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 @ DET 107-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 107-103. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to DET's 44%, 11 of 28 from three. Jackson led with 21 (9 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Caldwell-Pope added 20, Braun 15. The hinge was Q1, 27-23: from level to 4 ahead. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/22 @ ORL 119-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 119-124. DEN took 12 more shots (93 to 81), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to ORL's 54%, 15 of 35 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ORL's 30. Jokić led with 30 (12 of 18); Porter Jr. added 25, Gordon 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-28, but the other 3 periods went 96-85 against them. Braun's -13 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ HOU 86-105 — DEN notes
DEN lost 86-105. DEN took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to HOU's 49%, 7 of 30 from three, and went to the line 21 times to HOU's 15 — 15 points from the stripe to their 13. Jokić led with 38 (14 of 31, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Caldwell-Pope added 20, Porter Jr. 14. Q3 was theirs, 26-24, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 81-60 against them. Jackson's -26 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (9 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 120 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 13. Call it Denver 116, San Antonio 109.
11/27 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 101 a night to Denver's 115 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 32. Call it the Clippers 114, Denver 106.
11/29 vs HOU — 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 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Jackson at 18 a game. Without Murray (11 straight), Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 19 a game. Without Thompson (11 straight), Whitmore (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 38 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Denver's 111. Call it Denver 111, Houston 108, Houston keeping it close.
12/01 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Booker at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Beal (8 straight), Allen (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 35 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 107 a night to Denver's 115 and the line, where Phoenix takes 30 free throws a game to Denver's 24. Call it Phoenix 115, Denver 112, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
CG C. Gillespie
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
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
TE T. Eason
DEN/HOU 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, Sengun lead Rockets to 105-86 victory over Nuggets in NBA's In-Season Tournament
HOUSTON -- — Jalen Green scored 25 points, Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 14 rebounds and the Houston Rockets beat the slumping Denver Nuggets 105-86 on Friday night in the NBA's In-Season Tournament.
Houston improved to 2-1 in the tournament with a game left next week at Dallas. Denver completed group play 2-2. The defending champion Nuggets have lost five of seven after opening 8-1.
Nikola Jokic had a season-high 38 points along with 19 rebounds and eight assists for Denver. Aaron Gordon went 0 for 12 and had two points on a night the Nuggets shot 33.7%.
Houston coach Ime Udoka said the game plan was to make Jokic beat them.
“We guarded Jokic one-on-one and kept everybody else in check,” he said. “The focus was there to take the others out and in that sense it worked out well.”
The Rockets have won three in a row over the Nuggets, including both meetings this season, after dropping the previous 10.
“It’s an accomplishment,” Udoka said. “We’ll take it and learn from it and grow. It’s another win from the defending champions so that’s good.”
The Nuggets went 1-4 on this road trip that coach Michael Malone called “disappointing.” He said he was going to start trying different players in the rotation after Denver's bench scored just 10 points Friday.
“You've got to bring something to the party,” he said.
Houston was up by 15 entering the fourth quarter before the Nuggets scored the first six points of the quarter, capped by a 3 from Justin Holiday , to get to 84-75.
Sengun made a layup for the Rockets after that but was called for a foul on Jokic on the other end seconds later. Udoka was given a technical for arguing the call and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made the technical free throw before Jokic made one of two free throws to cut the lead to nine again.
But Green was fouled on a dunk on the next possession and finished the 3-point play. Fred VanVleet then swiped the ball from Reggie Jackson and passed to Green for an alley-oop dunk to bring the crowd to its feet and leave the Rockets up 91-77 with less than seven minutes left.
The Rockets improved to 8-1 at home with the win, but are 0-5 on the road.
“(The fans) are putting on for us, showing up," Green said. “We've just got to get a win on the road now. I think that's our biggest goal. So that's what we're focused on."
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host San Antonio on Saturday night.
Rockets: Wrap up group play in the in-season tournament at Dallas on Tuesday night.