The Houston Rockets lost to the Denver Nuggets 112-109 at home in an NBA Cup game. Despite a strong comeback effort, the Rockets could not overcome their slow start. Reed Sheppard led Houston with a career-high 27 points.
The Houston Rockets suffered a narrow 112-109 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in a tightly contested NBA Cup game at the Toyota Center. Reports differ on the exact day of the matchup, with one account placing it on Friday night and another on Saturday, but both confirm the final score and key performances.
The game started poorly for Houston, who trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, shooting just 44% from the field and 39% from three overall. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who combined for 60 points, 12 rebounds, and 19 assists, shot efficiently at 53% from the field, 38% from three, and 78% from the free-throw line.
Houston mounted a strong response, outscoring Denver 97-87 over the final three quarters to make it a one-point game late. Alperen Sengun's half-court heave at the buzzer fell short. While Sengun and Kevin Durant combined for only 27 points on 11-of-29 shooting, supplementary players stepped up. Reed Sheppard scored 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting, including 20 in the first half, with four assists and two steals. Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, hitting a corner three to cut the lead to one. Amen Thompson contributed 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, showing aggression inside the arc.
This loss drops the Rockets to 10-4, their second defeat in 12 games after starting 0-2. Houston maintains the NBA's top offensive rating at 122.5 and the ninth-best defensive rating at 112.1. The team faces the Phoenix Suns on Monday.