Rockets Beat Nuggets 110-100 Behind Durant’s Near Triple-Double

The Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-100 on Monday, November 9, 2026, at Toyota Center, with Kevin Durant leading the winners with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Houston built a 14-point halftime lead and held off Denver’s second-half response despite Jamal Murray’s game-high 38 points.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Rockets Establish an Early Advantage

Houston outscored Denver 32-24 in the opening quarter, establishing an eight-point cushion at home. That early advantage proved important in a game in which the Nuggets would score more freely after halftime.

Second Quarter: Houston Extends the Lead

The Rockets limited Denver to 16 second-quarter points while adding 22 of their own. Houston entered halftime ahead 54-40, having outscored the Nuggets in each of the first two periods.

Third Quarter: Denver Narrows the Gap

Denver produced a 28-23 third quarter to reduce the deficit to nine. The Nuggets improved considerably on their second-quarter scoring output, but Houston still held a 77-68 advantage entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Rockets Maintain Their Cushion

Both offenses delivered their highest-scoring quarters in the final period. Houston edged Denver 33-32, protecting its lead and finishing with a 110-100 victory in regulation. The Nuggets scored 60 points after halftime, but the Rockets answered with 56 to preserve most of their first-half advantage.

Key Performers

• Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets: Finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, leading Houston in all three categories and finishing two assists short of a triple-double.
• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: Led all scorers with 38 points, accounting for 38% of Denver’s total offense.
• Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets: Recorded 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, leading the Nuggets in rebounding and assists.

NerdSports Stat: Houston outscored Denver 42-24 from 3-point range—an 18-point advantage that exceeded the Rockets’ final winning margin by eight points.

Game Analysis: Rebounding, Passing and 3-Point Production

Houston’s biggest advantages came beyond the arc and on the glass. The Rockets made 14 of 38 3-point attempts, shooting 36.8%, while Denver finished 8-for-29 at 27.6%. Those six additional makes gave Houston a substantial scoring edge despite nearly identical overall field-goal percentages.

The Rockets shot 45.1% from the field compared with Denver’s 44.6%, but attempted eight more shots, 91 to 83. Houston also finished with a 50-39 rebounding advantage. The supplied totals do not separate offensive and defensive rebounds, but the overall difference underscores Houston’s stronger work on the boards.

Ball movement was another clear distinction. Houston recorded 29 assists on 41 made baskets, while Denver had 19 assists on 37 makes. Durant’s eight assists complemented his team-leading scoring and rebounding, giving the Rockets production across multiple areas.

Denver earned more opportunities at the foul line, making 18 of 25 free throws compared with Houston’s 14 of 17. That four-point advantage was not enough to offset the difference in 3-point scoring. Murray and Jokic combined for 63 points, leaving the rest of the Nuggets with 37.

Closing Context: Houston Improves to 7-3

The win moved Houston to 7-3 overall and 4-1 at home, strengthening its early-season position in the Western Conference. The Rockets next face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, November 11, at 6:30 p.m. PST. Denver’s next scheduled game is against the Memphis Grizzlies that same day at 5 p.m. PST, with improved outside shooting an obvious area to address after this loss.

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