Green scores 26 as Rockets beat Nuggets 114-106 for 1st road win
DENVER (AP) 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.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Will host San Antonio on Monday night.
Nuggets: Play at Atlanta on Monday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Alperen Sengun vs. Nikola Jokic (Jalen Green gains possession) | ||
| 11:47 |  | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:44 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 11:43 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:40 | | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | ||
| 11:39 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:35 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:16 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:16 | | Jamal Murray shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 11:16 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 3-0 |
| 10:56 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 10:56 | | Nikola Jokic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:56 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 10:56 | | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-1 |
| 10:45 | | Michael Porter Jr. blocks Jalen Green's two point layup | ||
| 10:42 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | Jamal Murray misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:36 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:28 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:15 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Loose ball) (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 10:08 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:05 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 9:58 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:55 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Aaron Gordon misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 9:43 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 9:40 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:37 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point pullup jump shot | 3-3 |
| 8:51 | | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 8:51 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-3 |
| 8:51 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-3 |
| 8:36 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point stepback jump shot | 5-6 |
| 8:23 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:20 | | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 8:11 | | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | ||
| 8:11 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-7 |
| 8:11 | | +1 | Jamal Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-8 |
| 7:55 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point floating jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 7-8 |
| 7:39 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point pullup jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 7-11 |
| 7:20 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:16 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 7-14 |
| 6:50 | | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | ||
| 6:50 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:41 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:37 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 6:34 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot | 9-14 |
| 6:08 | | Jamal Murray misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:05 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | Jabari Smith Jr. turnover (traveling) | ||
| 5:42 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Jeff Green steals) | ||
| 5:36 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point running layup | 11-14 |
| 5:27 | | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 5:22 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point running jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 14-14 |
| 5:20 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:05 | | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:01 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point pullup jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 17-14 |
| 4:31 | | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:31 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 4:20 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:20 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:15 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 4:00 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup | 19-14 |
| 4:00 | | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 4:00 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-14 |
| 3:44 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point cutting layup (Reggie Jackson assists) | 20-16 |
| 3:26 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:21 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | ||
| 3:21 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-16 |
| 3:21 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-16 |
| 3:03 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:57 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:57 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:56 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 2:53 | | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 2:53 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-16 |
| 2:53 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-16 |
| 2:36 | | Reggie Jackson misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:31 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 2:29 | | Jump ball. Christian Braun vs. Aaron Holiday (DeAndre Jordan gains possession) | ||
| 2:29 | | Aaron Holiday turnover (lost ball) (Christian Braun steals) | ||
| 2:19 | | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 24-18 |
| 1:59 | | Nuggets technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 1:59 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 25-18 |
| 1:51 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving layup | 27-18 |
| 1:36 | | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:35 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 1:35 | | Jeff Green personal foul (Loose ball) (DeAndre Jordan draws the foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 27-20 |
| 1:06 | | Tari Eason misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:04 | | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:50 | | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:50 | | +1 | Reggie Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-21 |
| 0:50 | | +1 | Reggie Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-22 |
| 0:29 | | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:05 | | Reggie Jackson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Jalen Green misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Peyton Watson assists) | 27-25 |
| 11:23 | | Jae'Sean Tate misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:00 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:54 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | DeAndre Jordan personal foul (Loose ball) (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | ||
| 10:42 | | Michael Porter Jr. blocks Jabari Smith Jr.'s two point layup | ||
| 10:40 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 10:40 | | Rockets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 10:27 | | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:25 | | Reggie Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Peyton Watson misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 10:14 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 10:06 | | Tari Eason misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:03 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:59 | | Christian Braun offensive foul (Charge) (Jeff Green draws the foul) | ||
| 9:59 | | Christian Braun turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:42 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:35 | | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:23 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 9:10 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (lost ball) (DeAndre Jordan steals) | ||
| 9:07 | | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point running layup (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 27-27 |
| 9:07 | | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:07 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-28 |
| 8:50 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-28 |
| 8:32 | | Tari Eason shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:32 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-29 |
| 8:32 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-30 |
| 8:14 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 33-30 |
| 8:01 | | +2 | DeAndre Jordan makes two point dunk (Reggie Jackson assists) | 33-32 |
| 7:36 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 36-32 |
| 7:24 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 36-34 |
| 7:03 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:00 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (DeAndre Jordan assists) | 36-36 |
| 6:21 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:17 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | DeAndre Jordan turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 6:11 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point running jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 39-36 |
| 6:11 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:47 | | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 5:44 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving reverse layup | 41-36 |
| 5:29 | | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 5:29 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-36 |
| 5:12 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 42-38 |
| 4:58 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:54 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 4:53 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point floating jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 44-38 |
| 4:38 | | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:35 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 4:15 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 4:12 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 4:08 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 46-38 |
| 3:53 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point hook shot | ||
| 3:47 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 3:47 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point tip layup | 46-40 |
| 3:33 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 48-40 |
| 3:07 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point stepback jump shot | 48-43 |
| 2:54 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:52 | | Fred VanVleet offensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:46 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:39 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 2:36 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound |