Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray recorded double-doubles as the Denver Nuggets snapped the host Houston Rockets’ five-game winning streak with a 112-109 victory on Friday in NBA Cup play.
Jokic paired 34 points with 10 rebounds while Murray added 26 points and 10 assists as the Rockets won for the ninth time in 10 games.
Jokic, who added nine assists, scored 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the third quarter to help erase Denver’s halftime deficit. Murray scored seven points down the stretch of the fourth after the Rockets, who had trailed by 12 points in the third, closed within 101-99 with 2:53 remaining.
Murray capped a scrambled possession with a 12-footer for a 103-99 lead at the 2:30 mark before adding a driving layup that restored a four-point edge with 46.2 seconds to go. Jabari Smith Jr. nailed a corner 3-pointer that pulled Houston to within one point with 5.5 seconds to play, but Jokic sank two free throws with 2.7 seconds left.
Alperen Sengun’s 43-foot heave at the buzzer was no good.
Smith paired 21 points with 11 rebounds before sending Jokic to the line with his sixth foul. Reed Sheppard scored 27 points and nailed five 3-pointers off the bench for the Rockets, who received subpar performances from Kevin Durant (13 points, 5-of-14 shooting) and Sengun, with missed 9 of 15 shots while posting 14 points, six assists and five turnovers.
Houston’s Amen Thompson compiled 22 points and seven rebounds.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown combined for 22 points off the Denver bench.
The Rockets shot a ragged 6-for-24 in the opening period and committed five turnovers as the Nuggets carried a 25-12 lead into the second.
Denver pounded the Rockets on the offensive glass in the first quarter, posted a 19-10 rebounding margin overall, and took a double-digit lead during a stretch where Houston missed six straight shots while also recording three turnovers.
Sheppard singlehandedly pulled the Rockets back into contention in the second, starting with consecutive baskets that sliced the deficit to 31-26. He teamed with Durant on back-to-back 3-pointers before draining another 3-pointer and assisting on a Thompson dunk that gave Houston a 38-37 lead.
Sheppard scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the period, and Houston led 49-46 at the half.
Denver improved to 2-1 in West Group C play of the NBA Cup, while Houston slipped to 1-2.
