With Nikola Jokic a late scratch, Rockets hammer Nuggets

Field Level Media|published: Wed 15th January, 23:32 2025

Jan 15, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) guards in the first quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Jalen Green scored 34 points, Alperen Sengun had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and the visiting Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 128-108 on Wednesday night.

Fred VanVleet and Cam Whitmore each scored 16 points and Amen Thompson finished with 11 points for Houston. The Rockets have won five in a row.

Denver played without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who injured his elbow during warmups and was ruled out before the start of the game, as well as Aaron Gordon (injury management).

Jokic, who leads the team in scoring (30.6), rebounding (13.2) and assists (9.9), has missed six games this season but this is the first time he was out due to injury.

Gordon sat for injury management on his right calf, which has kept him out 19 games this season.

Without those two, the Nuggets lost the second game of a back-to-back for the first time this season. Denver had been 8-0 in those games.

Jamal Murray followed up his 45-point night in Dallas on Tuesday with 22 points. Christian Braun also had 22 points, Russell Westbrook added 17, and Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther scored 10 each for the Nuggets.

Houston led by five after the first quarter and took control in the second.

Westbrook's fadeaway jumper got Denver within 40-32 midway through the quarter. Whitmore had a dunk, Dillon Brooks drained a 3-pointer and Thompson scored on a layup to put the Rockets up 47-32.

Green stayed hot and helped Huston push the lead to 55-37 with 3:23 left in the second. After the Nuggets tried to cut into the deficit, Green made four free throws, fed Sengun for a jumper and scored the last six points of the half to give the Rockets a 69-46 lead at intermission.

Green's 3-pointer made it a 24-point lead 90 seconds into the third before Denver tried to make a run. Westbrook hit a 3-pointer, Michael Porter Jr. scored five points and Murray made a 3-pointer and a layup to get within 82-65.

Houston quickly pushed the lead to 22 again and led 102-81 after three quarters and was never threatened in the fourth.

--Field Level Media