In Jamal Murray’s comeback from a hamstring damage, Nikola Jokic delivered a stellar efficiency with 32 factors, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. In comparability, Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 30 factors, main the Denver Nuggets to a 134-124 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday evening.
Murray, who had missed Denver’s previous 11 video games, contributed 16 factors, revitalizing the Nuggets, who improved their document to 6-5 with out him after beginning 6-1 with him obtainable.
His return fueled one in every of Denver’s greatest offensive performances of the season, marked by 19 made 3-pointers and a powerful 37 assists with solely three turnovers.
“One of the security guards said, ‘Hey, great win tonight.’ I said it was a great outcome,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone talked about. “I wouldn’t call it a great win. It was a great outcome.”
The victory marked the third consecutive win for the NBA champion Nuggets, who had beforehand misplaced 4 of 5 video games.
Jokic, recovering from a decrease again damage, achieved his seventh triple-double of the season, a feat that surpassed the mixed complete of triple-doubles by all different NBA gamers coming into the evening.
“This is pretty easy basketball when you’ve got someone that good with the floater but also that good at passing,” mentioned Porter, who additionally grabbed 10 rebounds and made seven of his 12 3-point makes an attempt.
Despite two losses to the Rockets in November, together with a 19-point defeat in Houston, the Nuggets dominated the sport, showcasing their NBA-best dwelling document of 9-0 whereas sending the Rockets to a winless 0-7 on the street.
Although Murray made a triumphant return, Denver missed ahead Aaron Gordon, who was absent for the third consecutive sport attributable to a strained proper heel.
Welcomed with a roaring “He’s back!” from the general public handle announcer and a hearty ovation from the house crowd earlier than tip-off, Murray skilled a minor scare early within the sport as he injured his ankle. However, he returned to complete the sport after taking part in 22 minutes, describing the ankle damage as “frustrating.”
“The hamstring’s fine,” Murray said. “I’ve worked enough to get it back to strength. Now, it’s just another thing. I’ve got to work on that and hopefully, I’ll be ready.”
Despite the preliminary scare, Denver maintained management all through the evening.
Led by 12 factors from Porter, the Nuggets scored a season-high 41 factors within the first quarter and led by as many as 19. Denver by no means trailed, holding a double-digit lead for all however the opening 4:16. The Rockets, taking part in the second evening of a back-to-back after dropping the Dallas Mavericks, struggled to catch up.
“We just woke up pretty late,” Rockets guard Jalen Green mentioned. “If we started off a little bit better, it would have been a different story.”
Green led the Rockets with 26 factors, showcasing a powerful efficiency with 18 factors within the third quarter, making all six of his discipline objectives and all 4 of his 3-pointers.
Alperen Şengün added 22 factors for Houston, which suffered its fifth loss in seven video games after a shocking 6-3 begin.
The Rockets have been with out guard Fred VanVleet, the staff’s third-leading scorer and $130 million offseason acquisition, who was sidelined with a sprained left thumb.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
