In the opener of a three-game Western Conference road trip, Jalen Green continued his recent surge for the Houston Rockets in Wednesday’s 128-108 victory (box score) at Denver’s Ball Arena.
With the win, Houston (27-12) won its fifth straight game and extended its lead for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings. Led by their third-rated defense, the Rockets controlled the game from the outset and dominated the turnover battle, forcing 18 from the Nuggets (24-16) while committing only eight.
After tying his career-high total with 42 points in Monday’s victory over Memphis, Green was outstanding again against the Nuggets.
In only three quarters of action (with Houston conservative with minutes due to the score and another game looming Thursday in Sacramento), Green scored a game-high 34 points and dished out 5 assists, making 10-of-16 shots (62.5%), 6-of-10 from 3-point range (60.0%), and all eight of his free-throw attempts.
“He’s taking what they’re giving him (opposing defenses) and knocking them down at a high clip,” head coach Ime Udoka said of Green.
For the Rockets, other standout statistical lines included:
- Alperen Sengun: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals in 26 minutes; 9-of21 shooting (42.9%)
- Fred VanVleet: 16 points, 8 assists, 3 steals; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%), 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%)
- Cam Whitmore: 16 points, 9 rebounds; 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
- Amen Thompson: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks; 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%)
Christian Braun and Jamal Murray let the Nuggets with 22 points apiece, with Braun shooting 10-of-11 from the field (90.9%). Remarkably, Denver was blown out at home despite shooting 40-of-75 from the field (53.3%) and 14-of-29 from 3-point range (66.7%), with the turnover differential among the leading reasons.
Third-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. (fractured left hand) and Tari Eason (lower left leg soreness) remained sidelined by injuries for the Rockets. For the Nuggets, three-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic was a late scratch with right elbow inflammation, while Aaron Gordon was held out due to right calf injury management.
Jan. 15 Rockets-Nuggets Complete Highlights
Jan. 15 Postgame Reaction and Interviews
Related, updated Jalen Green stats in his 20 games since Thanksgiving Eve (#Rockets 14-6, now 27-12 overall, No. 2 in West):🏀 24.3 points, 4.1 rebounds per game🏀 47.7% FG, 40.3% on 3s, 89.4% FTs
🏀 61.5% TS (!!!) https://t.co/U5y6onoROc
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) January 16, 2025
What’s Next
The Rockets will hit the midpoint of their three-game road trip with Thursday’s matchup at Sacramento (20-20). Tipoff from Golden 1 Center is at 9:00 p.m. Central, and the game will be aired to a national television audience via TNT, truTV, and Max.
More: NBA announces Jan. 28 as rescheduled date for previously postponed Rockets-Hawks game
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets rout Denver as Jalen Green drops 34 points in three quarters
