HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets responded to two straight losses with a 110–100 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday, November 9, at Toyota Center. Kevin Durant delivered 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Alperen Sengun added 20 points and eight assists. Houston improved to 8–3 after falling to Minnesota and Phoenix, showing the composure it had been missing in its recent close games.
The Rockets established a 19-point first-half advantage, but Denver hit back with an 18–2 run in the third quarter to tie the score at 60. Jamal Murray scored 38 points for the Nuggets, and Nikola Jokic finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Houston survived a stretch of more than six minutes without a field goal, then answered with an 11–2 run sparked by Tari Eason. Late three-pointers from Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet helped keep Denver from completing the comeback.
The key development was how Durant and Sengun worked together when Denver adjusted its defense. Their scoring and passing gave Houston options beyond isolation plays, while Marcus Smart and other Rockets provided timely stops. Houston was short-handed in the frontcourt, making the response against Jokic particularly valuable. The Rockets now face another Western Conference test when Stephen Curry and Golden State visit Wednesday. The victory does not erase recent concerns about late-game execution, but it offers a useful example of how Houston can close out a competitive opponent.