Nuggets Take 128-99 Win Against Rockets

Nikola Jokic scored 29 points, Michael Porter Jr. included 21 and the Denver Nuggets travelled to a 128-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday evening.

Jokic dominated in the paint, striking 10 of 12 basket as well as adding 16 rebounds. Jokic fell 3 assists timid of his 16th triple-double of the period and also second in as many games. He played simply 27 mins in the game and not in the 4th quarter.

” What makes him the MVP is he hasn’t missed out on any type of video games, he has this team– and we’ve had some injuries– in the top 4 of a talented as well as very deep Western Conference,” Nuggets train Michael Malone said. “And after that you discuss his statistics and performance, as well as it’s historical numbers. We’re fortunate to have him as well as most of us realize that.”

Doorperson was 4 of 7 from past the arc. Coming off the bench, JaMychal Green scored 13 factors, as well as Paul Millsap had 11 factors as well as 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the period. Will Barton included 12 points.

” We still made some silly blunders tonite, however overall, we’ve been playing good basketball the last couple of video games,” Porter stated. “We’ve definitely got to up it, specifically without Jamal (Murray) since he’s such a large component of the group.”

Denver made simply 9 of 31 from 3 yet harassed Houston in the paint, outscoring the Rockets 62-52 from close quarters as well as outrebounding them 54-35.

Denver led 69-49 at halftime and also extended the result in 29 points by the end of the game.

” Before we left the storage locker space, I asked the players, ‘What do you believe concerns me the most about this video game?'” Malone stated. “Will Barton right away stated, ‘United States.’ Excellent teams handle their service, as well as I assumed this evening, we actually did that.”

The Nuggets have won 10 of their last 12 video games, winning six of those video games by double numbers.

Houston hit 11 of 35 from 3 however could not make the protective quits needed to hang with Denver. The Rockets committed 14 turnovers, while the Nuggets committed simply nine.

Denver broke an eight-game losing streak in Houston.

Kelly Olynyk had 23 factors for Houston. Jae’Sean Tate had 21 factors, and Christian Wood added 15.

Denver outscored Houston 32-14 in second-chance factors.

” They’ve got some large bodies out there,” Olynyk stated. “We’ve got to make an extra concerted effort, especially in a game like that. We’ve reached square ourselves up and provide ourselves an opportunity.”

John Wall had 10 points, 2 helps as well as seven turnovers in 28 mins.

After playing 8 games in 13 days, the Nuggets have a relatively lean week in advance, playing just 2 video games in the six days after Friday evening.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Malone claimed prior to the video game that he’s been worried about how much has actually been asked of Aaron Gordon and claimed he’s had conversations with Gordon to try to rest and also limit his mins when possible. In Friday evening’s blowout win, Gordon played just 22 mins, his lightest tons given that his Denver launching on March 28, when he played less than 21 minutes.

Rockets: D.J. Augustin (left ankle joint strain) as well as Sterling Brown (left knee soreness) stayed sidelined. … Of the 9 Rockets who played in the first game at Denver on Dec. 28, just Wood and also Tate were still with the team and also available to play Friday night.

NO SELFIES FOR THE JOKER?

” He’s not worried about all the ego and also the limelight and all that other stuff. I actually take pleasure in individuals on Twitter that take photos of themselves and also publishing that. Who does that? I’ve never ever seen Nikola once take a photo of himself and also upload it, and that’s what I like regarding him on top of being an excellent, great player.”– Malone on Jokic

BOTTOM OF THE STANDINGS

With the loss on Friday night and also Minnesota’s 119-111 gain Miami, the Rockets relocated into single possession of the worst document in the NBA at 14-42. They’ve won simply three of their last 35 games. Houston’s 2021 first-round pick is safeguarded in the leading four picks, otherwise, it goes to Oklahoma City as part of a 2019 trade for Russell Westbrook.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Get a two-day break before hosting Memphis on Monday night.

Rockets: Visit Orlando on Sunday evening for a back-to-back Florida trip.

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