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:
Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026