Denver Nuggets narrowly win against Houston Rockets

NBA 2021-2022 – Denver can thank Nikola Jokic. Author of 28 points and 14 rebounds, the Serbian pivot offered victory to Denver on a plateau by blocking the last shot of the match. The Nuggets go positive (5-4) while Houston, his evening opponent, has not won for two weeks and sinks into the abyss of the Western Conference. Final score 95-94, the locals are doing well tonight.

The Denver Nuggets begin a five-game home series tonight with this encounter against a young team from the Houston Rockets. Michael Malone has a problem to resolve at the start of the season. The Denver coach sees his team downgraded when his reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, is on the bench. It could not be more conspicuous during the back-to-back lost by the men of Colorado against Memphis. One man did stand out: Will Barton. 26 points and 7 assists in his last appearance. The leader is also the one who starts his match best against the Texans with 9 points in the first quarter.

Denver awaiting creation

The Baby Rockets, surrounded by veterans Daniel Theis and Eric Gordon, take a short lead after 12 minutes (27-26). Bad news from the first moments of the meeting for Denver with the quadriceps injury of Michael Porter Jr, which will not return to the floor. The Jokic addiction is verified in this half-time. The Nuggets have a real problem creating without their Serbian hub. Nobody takes matters into their own hands to bring their team to the basket. With 38% shooting success (including a 2/18 at 3-point), Denver does not really shine its City edition jersey. Houston and its record of 1-7 does not let it go tonight and returns to the locker room with the advantage in the score (47-46).

Houston still in the game

The second period begins with a rain of failed shots and Monte Morris scores the first with an award-winning shot. Jokic begins to weigh on the defense of Houston, the Serbian is already at 17 points and 10 rebounds. There is, as often, this ease back to the basket where he can almost do what he wants and force his opposite to make a mistake. Turkish rookie Sengun for example ended up on the buttocks after an imposing shoulder blow. The Rockets are the franchise losing the most balls this season, they are average after the first three quarters and yet, all these young players keep pace on the field of the Nuggets. A length of delay 12 minutes from the buzzer, in this low-scoring match (71-72).

Jokic blocks the Rockets

For the first time, Will Barton and his friends make a gap without Nikola Jokic, 7-0 scored and therefore seven points ahead on the scoreboard. This gap is evaporating as quickly as it happened, the two teams have not let go since the start of the match and the money-time – even overtime – is fast approaching. The MVP 2020/2021 finds himself in the last four minutes in danger in terms of fouls. More than one and he does not end the meeting. The end of the game turns completely in favor of the locals. Aaron Gordon transforms into a sniper with two very important long-range shots. While Houston has the game point, Nikola Jokic against Jae’Sean Tate’s buzzer fire. The men of Michael Malone ensures in the last moments this victory with a score of 95-94.

NUGGETS WIN pic.twitter.com/KBXzH86z2Z

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 6, 2021

Houston may have regrets, Stephen Silas have not let go. The “greats” of the team were good at their game in the game against Jokic. Daniel Theis finished top scorer in H-Town with 18 points while Christian Wood ends this meeting with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Their record drops to 1-8 and the Rockets are still vegetating at the bottom of the Western Conference.