Fred VanVleet leads Rockets to sixth straight victory with 107-104 win over Nuggets
HOUSTON (AP) Fred VanVleet scored 26 points and Alperen Sengun added 23 to lead the Houston Rockets to a 107-104 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
Houston’s six-game winning streak is the longest since January 2021.
Nikola Jokic had his fourth triple-double of the season, racking up 36 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists in the loss.
Jokic hit a 3 with 19.1 seconds remaining to cut Houston’s lead to 103-102. He had a full-court shot at the buzzer to tie it but fell short.
The Nuggets entered the game 8-1, their best start since the 2018-19 season. Houston improved to 6-3 after starting the season 0-3.
“We’re getting better,” VanVleet said. “We can feel the trend trending upward, we’re trying to get more things done that the coaches are asking us to do, and we’re executing at a higher and higher level each time out.”
Rockets veteran Jeff Green hit a big 3 with 1:49 left in the fourth, putting Houston up 103-94. Green appeared in all 20 playoff games during Denver’s championship run last season. Green scored 15 points off the bench Sunday.
“He obviously made big shots and was attacking the basket,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “But also, all week, he had a ton of advice and experience, and he was out there being the quarterback on defense, calling out their sets and what they were getting into. He had that familiarity with the team and obviously that was helpful, but it was great to see him come through down the stretch, finish the game and make some big shots. I’m happy for him.”
Denver entered the fourth quarter with a 76-74 lead thanks to a 20-foot jumper from Collin Gillespie with 2 seconds left in the third.
Sengun added eight rebounds and five assists, while shooting 9 of 18 from the field.
“I think it’s a good thing that they’re playing more through him,” Jokic said of Sengun. “I think it’s going to benefit their whole organization. He’s a guy who is not selfish, he wants to play for the team, he wants to pass, and the whole team is going to move when the ball is in his hands. He played really good today.”
Behind Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points, Aaron Gordon had 16 and Reggie Jackson added 14.
“The greatest challenge that we have is we’re trying to compete for a championship but also develop four young players off the bench,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “That is insanely hard because young players are going to have nights like tonight, and you have to continue to support them and help them in any way that you can, and that’s what we’re going to do. We know these guys are capable.”
Houston has won two in a row against Denver following a 10-game losing streak.
“It gives us another feather in our cap,” Udoka said. “It gives us experience with late-game execution and getting the shots we want and defending. I’m happy with how we finished. They did hit some tough shots, but that’s expected from a championship-caliber team.”
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the NBA In-Season Tournament play on Tuesday night.
Rockets: Open up a three-game California road trip with the Clippers on Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Alperen Sengun (Jabari Smith Jr. gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Jalen Green misses two point cutting layup | |||
11:40 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
11:37 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point running finger roll layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 2-0 | |
11:37 | Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
11:37 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 3-0 | |
11:22 | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
11:21 | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | Alperen Sengun turnover (3-second violation) | |||
10:58 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point layup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 5-0 | |
10:47 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 5-2 | |
10:30 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 7-2 | |
10:09 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving hook shot (Jalen Green assists) | 7-4 | |
9:50 | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
9:49 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:23 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point driving floating jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 7-6 | |
9:13 | Alperen Sengun blocks Nikola Jokic's two point driving layup | |||
9:11 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point running layup (Jalen Green assists) | 7-8 | |
9:10 | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | |||
9:10 | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-9 | |
8:55 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point layup | 9-9 | |
8:39 | Dillon Brooks misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:39 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
8:16 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
8:16 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point tip layup | 11-9 | |
8:09 | Jalen Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:08 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:56 | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | |||
7:51 | Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot | |||
7:50 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
7:43 | Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Reggie Jackson's two point driving layup | |||
7:43 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
7:38 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
7:34 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:22 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
7:05 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
7:03 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point putback layup | 13-9 | |
6:48 | Alperen Sengun misses two point floating jump shot | |||
6:48 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:40 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:37 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
6:30 | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 13-12 | |
6:07 | Aaron Gordon misses two point jump shot | |||
6:07 | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | |||
5:59 | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:59 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
5:47 | Aaron Gordon turnover (back court violation) | |||
5:47 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
5:36 | Dillon Brooks turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:24 | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
5:09 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 16-12 | |
4:48 | Aaron Holiday misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:47 | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | |||
4:43 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot | 16-14 | |
4:24 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 18-14 | |
4:05 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-16 | |
3:48 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 20-16 | |
3:31 | Aaron Holiday misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:31 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
3:19 | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Jae'Sean Tate steals) | |||
3:12 | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | |||
3:12 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
3:05 | Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
3:05 | Aaron Gordon misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:05 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
3:05 | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-16 | |
2:47 | Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:44 | Jock Landale offensive rebound | |||
2:41 | Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot | |||
2:39 | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | |||
2:38 | Aaron Gordon blocks Jae'Sean Tate's two point floating jump shot | |||
2:38 | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | |||
2:27 | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving floating jump shot (Tari Eason assists) | 21-18 | |
2:13 | Jock Landale shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
2:13 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
2:13 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-18 | |
2:13 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-18 | |
1:59 | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
1:57 | Collin Gillespie defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 25-18 | |
1:26 | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 25-21 | |
1:13 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Peyton Watson assists) | 28-21 | |
1:02 | Nikola Jokic blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup | |||
0:59 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | Peyton Watson misses two point driving layup | |||
0:49 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
0:49 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point putback layup | 30-21 | |
0:46 | Collin Gillespie personal foul (Aaron Holiday draws the foul) | |||
0:29 | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | |||
0:28 | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | |||
0:27 | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point hook shot | 30-23 | |
0:04 | Jeff Green blocks Zeke Nnaji's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:04 | Tari Eason defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Peyton Watson blocks Aaron Holiday's three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:35 | Christian Braun misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:35 | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:20 | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | |||
11:01 | Jalen Green personal foul (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
10:53 | Reggie Jackson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:52 | Tari Eason defensive rebound | |||
10:43 | Christian Braun shooting foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | |||
10:43 | Jae'Sean Tate misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:43 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
10:43 | +1 | Jae'Sean Tate makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-24 | |
10:22 | Christian Braun turnover (lost ball) (Tari Eason steals) | |||
10:09 | Aaron Holiday misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:08 | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | |||
9:54 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:53 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Jalen Green misses two point driving dunk | |||
9:39 | Jeff Green offensive rebound | |||
9:39 | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point driving dunk | 30-26 | |
9:39 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
9:17 | Peyton Watson misses two point driving layup | |||
9:17 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | |||
9:13 | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-27 | |
9:13 | Fred VanVleet misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:13 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | Julian Strawther misses three point bank jump shot | |||
8:53 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | |||
8:38 | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-28 | |
8:38 | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-29 | |
8:28 | Reggie Jackson offensive foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | Reggie Jackson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:08 | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jeff Green steals) | |||
7:50 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 30-31 | |
7:37 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point cutting layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 32-31 | |
7:28 | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | |||
7:18 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
7:12 | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Collin Gillespie steals) | |||
7:03 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:02 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | |||
6:45 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving reverse layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 34-31 | |
6:25 | Alperen Sengun misses two point layup | |||
6:24 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | Collin Gillespie misses three point jump shot | |||
6:14 | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | |||
6:04 | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point reverse layup (Dillon Brooks assists) | 34-33 | |
5:38 | Collin Gillespie misses three point jump shot | |||
5:36 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:28 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
5:17 | Dillon Brooks turnover (bad pass) (Collin Gillespie steals) | |||
5:13 | Alperen Sengun blocks Collin Gillespie's two point running layup | |||
5:13 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
5:11 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point layup (Collin Gillespie assists) | 36-33 | |
5:11 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
4:56 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:55 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
4:40 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving finger roll layup | 38-33 | |
4:25 | Tari Eason misses three point jump shot | |||
4:24 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Aaron Gordon misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:10 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
4:09 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point putback layup | 40-33 | |
3:55 | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 40-35 | |
3:55 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | |||
3:55 | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 40-36 | |
3:48 | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
3:42 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 43-36 | |
3:24 | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 43-39 | |
3:02 | Nikola Jokic misses two point jump shot | |||
3:02 | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | |||
2:50 | Fred VanVleet turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:28 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
2:27 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot |