The Houston Rockets walked into Ball Arena Wednesday night knowing the challenge ahead. A back-to-back, altitude, and a matchup with the league\u2019s most efficient offense is rarely forgiving.<\/p>\n
It proved even less forgiving than expected.<\/p>\n
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Houston fell to the Denver Nuggets 129-93, a game that stayed competitive through the first half before completely unraveling after the break. What began as a tight Western Conference matchup ended as one of the Rockets\u2019 roughest performances of the season.<\/p>\n
The opening minutes suggested a very different outcome.<\/p>\n
Alperen Sengun scored the first basket of the night, immediately answered by Nikola Jokic, setting the tone for the anticipated center matchup. Houston jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, playing with pace and energy despite being on the second night of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n
For much of the first quarter, the teams traded punches. Jabari Smith Jr. came out aggressive, attacking early opportunities while Jamal Murray matched him on the other end possession for possession. Neither side built real separation, and the quarter closed with Denver holding a narrow 24\u201320 lead.<\/p>\n
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The second quarter followed a similar pattern.<\/p>\n
Houston repeatedly clawed back when Denver created small cushions, thanks to physical interior play and some strong two-man actions between Sengun and Amen Thompson. The Rockets controlled the paint and rebounded well enough to stay close, but turnovers began to stack up.<\/p>\n
Those extra possessions mattered.<\/p>\n
Denver capitalized on Houston\u2019s mistakes late in the half, stringing together an 8\u20130 run fueled by transition opportunities. By halftime the Nuggets had built a 53\u201347 lead, while Houston\u2019s missed free throws and nine turnovers quietly created the margin.<\/p>\n
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The game changed completely in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Denver\u2019s offense shifted into another gear, playing faster and stretching Houston\u2019s defense with perimeter shooting. The Rockets struggled to respond. Open threes fell for the Nuggets, turnovers turned into transition points, and the scoreboard tilted quickly.<\/p>\n
Jokic recorded his triple-double early in the quarter, his 25th of the season, while Murray and Denver\u2019s shooters punished Houston\u2019s defensive rotations. The Nuggets dominated the period 40-22, turning a competitive game into a runaway.<\/p>\n
By the end of the third, the lead had ballooned to 93-69.<\/p>\n
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