Houston Rockets Dominate the Denver Nuggets
Saturday afternoon in Denver was one of those games where everything clicked for one side, and absolutely nothing went right for the other. If you’re a fan of the Houston Rockets, it was a masterclass in depth and perimeter shooting. If you’re David Adelman? Well, let’s just say he probably wanted to beat the traffic home.
The Rockets cruised to a 115-101 victory over the Nuggets, snapping a frustrating two-game skid and proving they can hang with the heavyweights even when the altitude is against them. But the box score only tells half the story. The real narrative was about a young player catching fire and an opposing coach losing his cool spectacularly.
Reed Sheppard Steals the Show For the Rockets
Let’s talk about the young gun first. With Kevin Durant taking a breather on the bench, you might expect the offense to stagnate. Instead, Reed Sheppard decided to turn the game into his personal playground. The rookie guard was absolutely electric, dropping 28 points off the bench.
Sheppard went on a tear late in the third quarter that essentially put the game out of reach. We aren’t talking about garbage-time buckets here; these were momentum-swinging daggers. He buried three shots from deep and hit his free throws, anchoring an 11-point stretch that left the Nuggets crowd stunned. When you have a guy coming off the bench and nearly matching KD’s production, you’re going to win a lot of ballgames.
KD Does What KD Does
Speaking of Durant, the veteran was his usual, efficient self. He led the Rockets with 31 points, providing the steady hand the team needed to navigate the early back-and-forth action. Durant’s 16-point first half kept Houston in the driver’s seat, and his mere presence on the floor opened up the lanes for guys like Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. to operate.
It’s a luxury having a superstar who can drop 30 in his sleep, but seeing the chemistry develop between him and the younger core is what should really have Houston fans excited.
Adelman’s Early Exit and Denver’s Cold Night
On the flip side, the Nuggets had a day to forget. It started with Nikola Jokic getting into early foul trouble—a rare sight that threw Denver’s rhythm completely out of whack. Frustration mounted, and it boiled over for Head Coach David Adelman in the fourth quarter.
After a no-call on a play near the rim, Adelman let the officials hear it. And then he really let them hear it. The result? The first ejection of his career. You almost have to appreciate the passion, but leaving your assistant, Jared Dudley, to steer the ship down double digits isn’t exactly the game plan. The Denver crowd gave him a standing ovation as he walked off, and Jamal Murray tried to hype everyone up, but the energy was already sucked out of the building.
The Nuggets shot a miserable 40% from the floor against the Rockets. You just aren’t beating a team like the Rockets, who were scorching hot from downtown, hitting 19 threes, with that kind of brick-laying exhibition. For Houston, this was a statement win. They weathered the storm, got huge contributions from the bench, and sent the Nuggets packing.
