The Houston Rockets continue to fly, and their latest victim is the defending champion Denver Nuggets, 107-104, on Sunday, November 12.
The Nuggets vs. Rockets game was close, and Houston only officially got the win after Nikola Jokic's improbable full-court heave, ESPN reported.
With the win, the Rockets extended their winning streak to six games, the longest winning run of the franchise since January 2021. It was also the second-straight win by Houston over Denver following a 10-game losing streak.
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Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun led the way for the Rockets with 26 and 23 points, respectively. This was enough for them to overcome the 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists performance of Jokic.
Rockets investment in VanVleet paying off
Fred VanVleet has always been known to be a star with the Toronto Raptors but needed the right kind of help. It appears he has gotten that from a bunch of young players led by Sengun, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith Jr., per CBS Sports.
However, veterans like Jeff Green and another new face, Dillon Brooks, also do their share. That was evident against the Nuggets, although it remains to be seen if this can hold up against other heavyweight teams.
Rockets doing wonders through defense
The Rockets are rolling because of their defense. They are fifth in the league, with a rating of 108.1. However, the Nuggets are not that far behind. Denver is sixth with a 108.2, per NBA.com.
Related to that, the Rockets have found a way to disrupt the fastbreak points of opposing teams. They lead the league with an 8.2, a result of the team's good defensive effort.
The Rockets will next face a heavyweight in the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, November 17. Playing against a team with four legitimate All-Stars, Rockets coach Ime Udoka will have his hands full pulling off a win.
Nuggets struggling with an undermanned roster
One player missing on the Nuggets roster against the Rockets is Jamal Murray. The guard is sidelined due to a strained calf. In his place is Collin Gillespie, who is performing well despite being on a two-way contract.
Overall, the depth of the Nuggets roster is questionable, the Denver Post reported. After Murray, Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon, head coach Michael Malone have not been able to get more out of the rest of the team.
That includes Christian Braun, who has been struggling as of late. Regardless, it would be good for the Nuggets to experience these deficiencies and address them this season. It is a critical factor in their run, especially if the Nuggets want to repeat as NBA champions.
The Nuggets will face the Los Angeles Clippers in their next assignment on Tuesday, November 14. They are 5-point spread underdogs against Los Angeles, meaning Malone and company need to come up with a good game plan.
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