Houston Whips Denver, 128-108; Tie Season and Keep Winning Ways
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 16 Jan 2025
Fully exploiting the absence of Nikola Jokic, the Houston Rockets routed the Denver Nuggets, 128-108 on the road to tie their season matchup at two wins each while continuing their winning ways.
After a competitive first quarter that ended at 28-23 in their favor, the Rockets started to pull away from Denver when they held the Nuggets without a basket for two minutes transforming a 40-32 lead to their first big lead at 50-34 following a 10-2 attack. The Rockets stretched this margin to 69-42 by the end of the first half as the Nuggets struggled without their main big man and scorer, Jokic.
Veteran centers DeAndre Jordan and Dario Saric tried to fill in and they were good for a combined 12 rebounds 5 points and 4 assists, areas Jokic usually produces triple doubles especially in scoring and assists and where Jordan both had zilch.
The Nuggets tried to rally in the third quarter through the combined efforts of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter and Russell Westbrook. But the Rockets merely equaled their 33 points production in the period through Jalen Green, Cam Whitnore and Amen Thompson with tall Turkish center Alperen Sengun, also making his presence felt on both ends.
Denver barely outscored Houston in the final quarter, 27-26 accounting for the final score as Julian Strawther and Payton Watson came off the bench to help the Nuggets to no avail.
Green continued as the Rockets main scorer as he led the attack with night high 34 points. Sengun dominated the paint scoring 20 points while pulling down 9 rebounds and issuing 8 assists. Fred Van Fleet and Whitmore contributed 16 points each while Thompson was good for 11 points and 9 rebounds.
Christian Braun and Murray topped for the Nuggets with 22 points each. Westbrook tossed in 17 points and Strawther and Watson added 10 points each. Porter could only score 8 points.
The win upped the Rockets record to 27-12 heading to the second half of the season. More importantly, the victory kept Houston at second in the West, 6 games behind the streaking OKC Thunder (33-6).
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Is Floyd chickening out?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 01 Apr 2026IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
Wed, 01 Apr 2026PBF president Almario dies
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Apr 20262 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Wed, 01 Apr 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
By Eric Armit, Tue, 31 Mar 2026Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 31 Mar 2026‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
Tue, 31 Mar 2026ZAYAS AND BOOTS CLASH IN UNIFIED BLOCKBUSTER AT BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN ON JUNE 27 – LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON DAZN PPV
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Full Card to Join Taduran Vs. Perez on Friday, April 3, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Live on ESPN Knockout
Tue, 31 Mar 202613-0 prospect Marco Romero hasn’t lost a Fight in nearly 7 years and he’s only 20
Tue, 31 Mar 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 16 – FOR LIVE PROFESSIONAL SUMO EVENT AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Filipino boy, 15, wins US chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 31 Mar 202660 Years of Top Rank: Bob Arum’s First Fight Launched a Boxing Empire
Mon, 30 Mar 2026