Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
Houston RocketsOpen full analysis
The Denver Nuggets escaped Toyota Center with a 112–109 victory over the Houston Rockets on November 21, holding off a late Houston surge in a closely contested matchup. Nikola Jokić led Denver with 34 points while Jamal Murray added 26 as the Nuggets shot 52.6 percent from the field and distributed 28 assists, showcasing their offensive efficiency. Houston's R. Sheppard paced the hosts with 27 points and A. Thompson contributed 22, but the Rockets' 44.1 percent shooting and 14 three-pointers made proved insufficient to overcome Denver's third-quarter dominance, when the visitors outscored Houston 34–29. The Nuggets' defensive rating of 111.5 versus Houston's 123.2 underscored Denver's superior execution on both ends, while both teams committed 14 turnovers. Despite Houston's 8 steals, Denver's seven blocks and balanced ball movement sealed the road win in a low-scoring first quarter that set a defensive tone early. The victory reinforces Denver's status as a championship contender while Houston faces questions about closing tight contests.
