Nuggets-Rockets Instant Reactions: Denver’s Offense Runs Dry

The Denver Nuggets tipped off another game in Ball Arena on Saturday afternoon, seeking their seventh straight victory and third over the Houston Rockets this season.

The Nuggets found themselves particularly shorthanded, still without Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson. Tim Hardaway Jr. started in Watson’s stead.

The Nuggets played some of their best defense of the season to open the game, but their offense never got off the runway, and the Rockets pulled away to snap Denver’s streak.

Final score: 115-101

Great Defense in the First Quarter

The Nuggets were down three key defenders as they took on the third-best offense in the NBA. And yet, they played some of their best defense of the season in the first quarter. The Nuggets forced six turnovers, an area in which they typically struggle, and scored nine points directly off those turnovers. They held Durant to 1-of-3 shooting in his first 10 minutes, and the Rockets to just 26 in the quarter.

The Offense Sputters

The Nuggets failed to capitalize on their strong start in the first. In a rare occurrence, the offense sputtered in the second, and Denver couldn’t get anything going in the half-court. The Nuggets, owners of the highest offensive rating in the league and on pace to set the record, scored just 16 points in the quarter.

Credit is due to the Rockets, who succeeded in mucking up Denver’s spacing and playing physical defense. Still, it’s almost shocking watching the offense stall out like that. After opening the game 5-of-11 from three-point range, they did not make one in the second.

Houston held the Nuggets to just 21 points in the third as well, making it by far the worst consecutive quarters of offense they’ve played this season.

Everyone struggled from the field. Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Cam Johnson, and Tim Hardaway Jr. all shot below 50% in the loss.

Jokić & Murray Struggle

The Nuggets have barely missed a beat since losing key players to injury, and Murray is a big reason why. But they didn’t look like they had two stars on the floor against Houston. Murray shot 4-of-13, finishing with just 16 points.

Jokić led the Nuggets in scoring, but he played an underwhelming game by his otherworldly standards. He never really dictated the action, and he played most of the game in foul trouble.

Durant and Sheppard Light It Up

While Denver’s offense failed to launch, the Rockets couldn’t miss. They shot 19-of-35 from deep, with three different players making at least five triples. Kevin Durant, Reed Sheppard, and Jabari Smith Jr. shot the lights out in Ball Arena. Even Josh Okogie shot 3-of-5.

Durant led all scorers with 31. Sheppard scored all but one of Houston’s bench points with 28.