This recap is long enough without an introduction. So let’s just jump right in.
TL;DR The Western Conference is going to be a war
1st Quarter
The game started with a noted uptick in intensity and physicality for mid-December. Josh Okogie and Peyton Watson traded threes to start the scoring followed by back-to-back turnovers by both teams. Jamal got on the board with a driving layup out of the two-man game, knifing between the bigs. After a KD technical free throw and a couple Sengun midrange jumpers, the Rockets grabbed a 10-7 lead. Watson answered with a drive straight down the lane and strong finish. On the other end, he nearly got his second steal guarding Durant. The 37-year-old future HoFer retained possession but missed a short J. Unable to capitalize, though, the Nuggets allowed another Sengun bucket, growing the lead to 14-9. Murray responded out of the timeout with another confident drive then matched a Durant three.
Sengun continued to dominate with a short hook for his 10th point in the first 7 minutes. The bad news continued as PWat was taken to the locker room to check on a shot he took to his lower back. Jokic answered with a three on his first shot to bring the Nuggets to within 21-17. A Hardaway jumper closed the gap further before Amen Thompson converted a long alleyoop.
With under 3:00 minutes to go, the Nuggets went to the double big lineup. The first shot out of the setup was a rushed Jok three, but Jonas scored on the post on the next possession. A THJ corner three in transition closed the gap to 30-24 at the close of the quarter.
2nd Quarter
Jokic sat to open the quarter, and Watson was confirmed to be “highly questionable” to return with a “right trunk contusion,” further thinning the Nuggets defensive options. Rocket sharpshooter Aaron Holiday buried a three, matched by a Jonas hook and three THJ free throws. Big Val capped off a 7-0 run with an easy jumper, and the Nuggets climbed back to within 2. Bruce then recovered a blocked shot and found Zeke Nnaji for a dunk, and then drew an offensive foul on Sengun—the 6th Rockets turnover (9 in the half). Tim banked in his 10th point followed by Val giving the Nuggets a brief 37-36 lead as Jok reentered the game.
Play got even more physical and chaotic as both teams attempted to scrape together offense. Jok cleaned up a miss, and Mal short-armed a floater but got it back and scored thanks to Spencer Jones’ quick hands, tying the game at 45. After a pair of Sengun freebies, Murray set up Jokic for a wide-open three. Big Honey continued to take control of the game down low with a nifty pass to himself off the backboard and a drive from the top of the key. He then went mano a mano in the post with Sengun, a wrestling match won by Nikola leading to a Jones layup in transition and two rage techs on Alperen and Rockets coach Ime Udoka. After Jokic found Cam for a breakaway dunk, Ball Arena erupted in Jokmas cheer, and the Nuggets went in at the half up 58-51 on a 17-6 run.
3rd Quarter
The slugfest continued as Houston went on a furious run to get back into the game to start the 2nd half. Okogie’s five quick points followed by an aggressive drive by Sengun, a Jabari Smith Jr. three, and a KD jumper brought the Rockets back to 65-65 despite 5 more for Jamal. Jokic stopped the bleeding with a floater but was then blocked at the rim, leading to a Thompson dunk and Nuggets time out as the Rockets recaptured the lead.
Out of the timeout, Murray hit a big momentum three followed by THJ to restore control with 6 minutes left. Durant’s enormous foot came down on Brown’s, giving him two shots and the ball. Okogie whirled in an acrobatic dunk and was fouled, but missed the FT. After a KD post up on Mal, the Rockets reclaimed the lead 77-75. A sloppy turnover on Bruce near the logo led to an uncontested dunk for Sheppard and quick Denver timeout.
Jokic again took control after the break, hitting a much needed three. The Nuggets then forced a jump ball on KD, which they secured. Jok muscled up Adams in the post, drawing a shooting foul (1/2), tying the game at 79. Johnson then knocked down a confident three to offset a tough Durant jumper over tight defense by Spencer. Adelman went again to the double big lineup to deal with Adams and Co. on the boards. After another Jokic drive through the trees and trip to the line the next possession, the BITW gave the Nuggets the lead back with his 25th point. Bruce’s steal and layup over Steven Adams just before the buzzer led to a 89-86 lead.
4th Quarter
Smith and Johnson traded threes to open the scoring in the 4th. Jonas picked up two quick fouls, though, giving him 5 with Jokic resting. Murray’s three off of a steal and pass ahead forced the Rockets into a timeout and gave Mal his 24th point. Big Val fouled out on the following possession, seemingly targeted by Sengun. Jokic returned and immediately dropped in his own miss. On the other end, KD elbowed Jokic in the upper body twice, earning him a technical foul. Murray followed up his free throw with a series of penetrations resulting in a shooting foul (2/2) and a 100-95 lead with 8:00 left.
Durant made a nice block on a desperation three attempt, and he converted on two FTs. Jokic responded with an off-balance shot. Sheppard bailed out a broken possession from the corner, bringing the Rockets to within two. A frenetic sequence led to a wide-open THJ three that wouldn’t go down. A weak foul on Jokic allowed Sengun to tie the game at 102. Joker found Jones in the dunker spot where he was fouled (1/2).
Jok and Sengun then went right at each other. Nikola muscled him in the post for an and-one. Alpie countered with a 10′ jumper that was immediately topped by another Jok three. A Cam FT (1/2) with 2:45 left gave the Nuggets a 109-104 lead. Smith Jr. answered with a dagger three in the corner. KD stripped 15 in the paint followed by a Sengun floater to tie the game. The MVP then calmly dropped in a three and found Spencer for another after Sheppard’s response. Durant matched with 30 seconds left, and the game sat at 115-115. Mal went to the line but missed the first.
Sengun then punched in a hook despite solid, physical defense from Jones with 2.3 seconds remaining, giving the Rockets a 117-116 lead …
which led to this:
Because the foul happened prior to the inbound pass, Murray was awarded one FT, and the Nuggets retained possession. Jokic got a look from almost the same spot he made the last three, but the shot went a tad long as a great game would go longer.
Overtime
Jokic picked up his fifth foul early in the 5-minute period, but the Rockets failed to score. Murray then hit back-to-back shots, and Jones drained a twisty corner three to give the Nuggets a 124-117 lead. Sengun and KD added a pair of jumpers to close the lead back to 3. Jokic then rattled in two freebies after being swallowed up in the lane.
Ball Arena then had it’s collective heart stopped as Jokic was called for his 6th foul as he tried to let Sheppard drive. After an unsuccessful challenge, Murray’s fellow Wildcat made 1/2. The Nuggets couldn’t secure the board, but they got a stop and the ball back. The Blue Arrow then drew a foul with :47 left and made two FTs to extend the lead to 128-122. Jones picked up his 5th on a bad Sengun and-one, which he converted. Murray’s fadeaway missed on the other end, giving the Rockets a chance to tie with :13 left.
And here’s how it ended:
FINAL SCORE: Rockets 125, Nuggets 128
GAME NOTES:
- Jokic finished 39/15/10 with 4 stocks
- Murray continues to have his best regular season (35/3/5)
- The Nuggets play the Rockets again on Saturday afternoon
- All the Nuggets are good
- Rockets coach Udoka had some thoughts about the officiating after the game:
