Game Center

HOU

Rockets

115-101

Final

DEN

Nuggets

Durant scores 31, Sheppard's 11-point flurry helps Rockets end Nuggets' 6-game win streak, 115-101

By AP•Dec 21, 2025

Game Recap

A frustrated David Adelman is thrown out after receiving his second technical foul.

DENVER -- — Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Reed Sheppard scored the final 11 points of the third quarter to blow open a close game, and the Houston Rockets rolled past the Denver Nuggets 115-101 on Saturday.

Sheppard was 6 for 9 from long range and scored 28 points. His last bucket came on a steal and a slam after the Nuggets reserves had trimmed a 21-point deficit to 107-97 in the closing minutes.

The Rockets avenged a loss earlier in the week at Denver and snapped the Nuggets' six-game winning streak. Durant was 5 for 6 from 3-point range and Jabari Smith was 5 for 11 from long range for 22 points.

The Rockets shot 19 of 35 from long range (54%) to Denver’s 8 of 29 (27%).

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points and Jamal Murray scored 16.

Denver coach Dave Adelman was ejected with 8:40 left in the game after arguing that Jokic should have gotten a whistle.

The Nuggets had pulled to within 71-66 with 1:29 left in the third quarter when Sheppard swished a pair of 3-pointers around a turnover by Murray. He sank two free throws and capped his run with another 3-pointer that gave the Rockets an 82-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Little went right for Denver, which was without star defender Peyton Watson (right trunk bruise) to guard Durant.

The rematch came three days after Rockets coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating in Houston’s 128-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Monday night.

He had little to complain about in this one, especially after Sheppard's 3s short-circuited Denver's comeback.

The Rockets took a 53-45 halftime lead after Josh Okogie hit a trio of 3-pointers, fueling an 11-0 run in the second quarter that helped Houston take control.

Up next

Rockets: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Nuggets: Host the Utah Jazz on Monday night.

------

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Series Context

Playoff Series and Prior Meetings

Full meeting history and series status so you can track momentum before tip-off and after the final whistle.

DEN leads series 2-1

Regular Season Series

DEN at HOU

Sat, Nov 22

112 - 109

Final

HOU at DEN

Tue, Dec 16

125 - 128

Final

HOU at DEN

Sat, Dec 20

115 - 101

Final

HOU at DEN

Thu, Mar 12

93 - 129

Final

Statistics visualization

Game Analysis

Head-to-head production and efficiency

Game Stats

HOU

DEN

39-77FG37-92

51Field Goal %40

19-353PT8-29

54Three Point %28

18-23FT19-23

9Offensive Rebounds10

38Defensive Rebounds29

24Assists21

6Steals9

8Blocks2

19Turnovers11

2Technical Fouls3

24Points Conceded Off Turnovers17

14Fast Break Points13

20Fouls20

21Largest Lead5

Match Leaders

Recent plays and game events

Play By Play

1st Quarter

TIME	PLAY	DEN	HOU
12:00	Alperen Sengun vs. Nikola Jokic (Cameron Johnson gains possession)	0	0
12:00	Cameron Johnson misses 23-foot three point jumper	0	0
11:42	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	0	0
11:25	Alperen Sengun makes 1-foot two point shot (Kevin Durant assists)	0	2
11:11	Nikola Jokic bad pass turnover (Amen Thompson steals)	0	2
11:05	Jabari Smith Jr. out of bounds bad pass turnover	0	2
10:55	Tim Hardaway Jr. out of bounds bad pass turnover	0	2
10:42	Kevin Durant bad pass turnover (Tim Hardaway Jr. steals)	0	2
10:36	Spencer Jones misses 23-foot running jump shot	0	2
10:32	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	0	2
10:24	Kevin Durant misses 12-foot two point shot	0	2
10:23	Amen Thompson offensive rebound	0	2
10:23	Amen Thompson makes tip shot	0	4
10:07	Spencer Jones makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists)	2	4
9:55	Kevin Durant makes 24-foot three point jumper (Alperen Sengun assists)	2	7
9:43	Nikola Jokic misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	2	7
9:39	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	2	7
9:34	Amen Thompson misses 11-foot pullup jump shot	2	7
9:32	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	2	7
9:19	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses driving floating jump shot	2	7
9:18	Rockets defensive team rebound	2	7
9:18	Nikola Jokic loose ball foul	2	7
8:59	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Josh Okogie assists)	2	10
8:43	Jamal Murray misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	2	10
8:41	Rockets defensive team rebound	2	10
8:31	Alperen Sengun out of bounds bad pass turnover	2	10
8:19	Spencer Jones makes 2-foot layup (Nikola Jokic assists)	4	10
8:04	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 25-foot three point jumper	4	10
8:00	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	4	10
7:58	Cameron Johnson misses running layup	4	10
7:58	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	4	10
7:47	Alperen Sengun lost ball turnover (Jamal Murray steals)	4	10
7:42	Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 23-foot running jump shot (Jamal Murray assists)	7	10
7:22	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 20-foot pullup jump shot	7	12
7:13	Cameron Johnson makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jamal Murray assists)	10	12
7:11	Rockets Full timeout	10	12
6:49	Amen Thompson makes dunk (Alperen Sengun assists)	10	14
6:29	Nikola Jokic makes 4-foot two point shot	12	14
6:07	Jabari Smith Jr. lost ball turnover (Cameron Johnson steals)	12	14
5:47	Nikola Jokic makes 4-foot two point shot	14	14
5:31	Spencer Jones shooting foul	14	14
5:31	Kevin Durant makes free throw 1 of 3	14	15
5:31	Kevin Durant makes free throw 2 of 3	14	16
5:31	Bruce Brown enters the game for Cameron Johnson	14	16
5:31	Steven Adams enters the game for Alperen Sengun	14	16
5:31	Reed Sheppard enters the game for Amen Thompson	14	16
5:31	Kevin Durant makes free throw 3 of 3	14	17
5:17	Nikola Jokic misses 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	14	17
5:15	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	14	17
4:59	Kevin Durant bad pass turnover (Spencer Jones steals)	14	17
4:55	Spencer Jones makes two point shot	16	17
4:39	Reed Sheppard misses 10-foot fade away jump shot	16	17
4:37	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	16	17
4:29	Nikola Jokic makes driving layup	18	17
4:14	Kevin Durant misses 2-foot two point shot	18	17
4:12	Spencer Jones defensive rebound	18	17
4:10	Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 1-foot running dunk (Spencer Jones assists)	20	17
4:00	Reed Sheppard makes 25-foot three pointer	20	20
3:41	Spencer Jones misses 25-foot three point jumper	20	20
3:40	Nuggets offensive team rebound	20	20
3:40	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Tim Hardaway Jr.	20	20
3:40	Amen Thompson enters the game for Josh Okogie	20	20
3:35	Jamal Murray makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)	23	20
3:21	Reed Sheppard makes 25-foot three point jumper (Amen Thompson assists)	23	23
2:55	Jamal Murray misses 15-foot step back jumpshot	23	23
2:53	Rockets defensive team rebound	23	23
2:53	Nikola Jokic loose ball foul	23	23
2:53	Nuggets Full timeout	23	23
2:53	David Adelman technical foul	23	23
2:53	Jonas Valanciunas enters the game for Nikola Jokic	23	23
2:53	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Jabari Smith Jr.	23	23
2:53	Kevin Durant misses technical free throw	23	23
2:53	Rockets offensive team rebound	23	23
2:28	Amen Thompson misses 25-foot three point jumper	23	23
2:25	Steven Adams offensive rebound	23	23
2:16	Reed Sheppard makes 23-foot three point jumper (Amen Thompson assists)	23	26
2:01	Jamal Murray out of bounds bad pass turnover	23	26
2:01	Aaron Holiday enters the game for Kevin Durant	23	26
1:39	Reed Sheppard misses 30-foot three point jumper	23	26
1:35	Jalen Pickett defensive rebound	23	26
1:26	Jonas Valanciunas misses 8-foot fade away jump shot	23	26
1:23	Steven Adams defensive rebound	23	26
1:09	Jonas Valanciunas blocks Amen Thompson 's 2-foot dunk	23	26
1:06	Steven Adams offensive rebound	23	26
1:06	Steven Adams misses two point shot	23	26
1:04	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	23	26
56.7	Spencer Jones makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jonas Valanciunas assists)	26	26
36.8	Aaron Holiday misses 18-foot pullup jump shot	26	26
31.7	Steven Adams offensive rebound	26	26
31.7	Steven Adams misses tip shot	26	26
30.7	Spencer Jones defensive rebound	26	26
10.6	Jamal Murray makes 27-foot three point jumper (Spencer Jones assists)	29	26
1.8	Alperen Sengun misses 15-foot fade away jump shot	29	26
1.8	Amen Thompson offensive rebound	29	26
0.3	Amen Thompson misses tip shot	29	26
0.1	Steven Adams offensive rebound	29	26
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	29	26

2nd Quarter

TIME	PLAY	DEN	HOU
12:00	Zeke Nnaji enters the game for Spencer Jones	29	26
12:00	Cameron Johnson enters the game for Jamal Murray	29	26
12:00	Kevin Durant enters the game for Alperen Sengun	29	26
12:00	Jabari Smith Jr. enters the game for Aaron Holiday	29	26
11:38	Kevin Durant misses 15-foot two point shot	29	26
11:34	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	29	26
11:29	Bruce Brown makes two point shot	31	26
10:59	Amen Thompson misses 24-foot three point jumper	31	26
10:54	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	31	26
10:45	Jalen Pickett misses driving floating jump shot	31	26
10:43	Jalen Pickett offensive rebound	31	26
10:41	Jonas Valanciunas misses 17-foot jumper	31	26
10:36	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	31	26
10:22	Kevin Durant misses 11-foot turnaround jump shot	31	26
10:19	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	31	26
10:03	Jonas Valanciunas misses 8-foot two point shot	31	26
10:02	Steven Adams defensive rebound	31	26
9:50	Kevin Durant makes 24-foot three point jumper (Reed Sheppard assists)	31	29
9:32	Jonas Valanciunas makes 11-foot jumper (Cameron Johnson assists)	33	29
9:15	Kevin Durant makes 27-foot three pointer	33	32
8:56	Jonas Valanciunas makes 2-foot two point shot (Cameron Johnson assists)	35	32
8:34	Cameron Johnson personal foul	35	32
8:34	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Steven Adams	35	32
8:30	Reed Sheppard makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Amen Thompson assists)	35	34
8:10	Cameron Johnson misses 2-foot driving layup	35	34
8:08	Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound	35	34
8:08	Jonas Valanciunas makes two point shot	37	34
7:51	Reed Sheppard misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	37	34
7:47	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	37	34
7:39	Jonas Valanciunas bad pass turnover (Reed Sheppard steals)	37	34
7:37	Jalen Pickett shooting foul	37	34
7:37	Kevin Durant makes free throw 1 of 2	37	35
7:37	Nikola Jokic enters the game for Zeke Nnaji	37	35
7:37	Tim Hardaway Jr. enters the game for Cameron Johnson	37	35
7:37	Kevin Durant makes free throw 2 of 2	37	36
7:37	Josh Okogie enters the game for Amen Thompson	37	36
7:24	Jabari Smith Jr. personal foul	37	36
7:11	Nikola Jokic out of bounds bad pass turnover	37	36
7:00	Josh Okogie makes 23-foot three point jumper (Reed Sheppard assists)	37	39
6:43	Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Jonas Valanciunas 's 1-foot dunk	37	39
6:38	Reed Sheppard defensive rebound	37	39
6:30	Josh Okogie makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jabari Smith Jr. assists)	37	42
6:28	Nuggets Full timeout	37	42
6:28	Spencer Jones enters the game for Bruce Brown	37	42
6:28	Jamal Murray enters the game for Jonas Valanciunas	37	42
6:28	Cameron Johnson enters the game for Jalen Pickett	37	42
6:28	Amen Thompson enters the game for Kevin Durant	37	42
6:20	Reed Sheppard blocks Cameron Johnson 's 3-foot layup	37	42
6:20	Rockets defensive team rebound	37	42
6:20	Rockets Full timeout	37	42
6:20	(06:20) [Rockets] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Rockets] retain their timeout	37	42
6:00	Josh Okogie makes 26-foot three point jumper (Alperen Sengun assists)	37	45
5:40	Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul	37	45
5:40	Nikola Jokic makes free throw 1 of 2	38	45
5:40	Nikola Jokic makes free throw 2 of 2	39	45
5:26	Alperen Sengun misses 18-foot pullup jump shot	39	45
5:22	Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound	39	45
5:20	Amen Thompson makes layup (Jabari Smith Jr. assists)	39	47
5:08	Nikola Jokic bad pass turnover (Reed Sheppard steals)	39	47
5:04	Amen Thompson makes dunk (Reed Sheppard assists)	39	49
4:41	Alperen Sengun blocks Jamal Murray 's 14-foot two point shot	39	49
4:39	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	39	49
4:35	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 25-foot running jump shot	39	49
4:32	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	39	49
4:26	Alperen Sengun shooting foul	39	49
4:26	Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 2	40	49
4:26	Aaron Holiday enters the game for Reed Sheppard	40	49
4:26	Kevin Durant enters the game for Amen Thompson	40	49
4:26	Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2	41	49
4:13	Alperen Sengun makes 1-foot dunk (Kevin Durant assists)	41	51
3:56	Nikola Jokic misses 24-foot three point jumper	41	51
3:53	Aaron Holiday defensive rebound	41	51
3:36	Alperen Sengun misses 3-foot two point shot	41	51
3:35	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	41	51
3:22	Kevin Durant blocks Nikola Jokic 's 5-foot turnaround jump shot	41	51
3:22	Aaron Holiday defensive rebound	41	51
3:13	Tim Hardaway Jr. personal foul	41	51
3:13	Amen Thompson enters the game for Jabari Smith Jr.	41	51
3:13	Steven Adams enters the game for Alperen Sengun	41	51
2:59	Kevin Durant makes 10-foot pullup jump shot	41	53
2:48	Jamal Murray misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	41	53
2:48	Aaron Holiday defensive rebound	41	53
2:40	Aaron Holiday misses 26-foot three point jumper	41	53
2:36	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	41	53
2:27	Nikola Jokic offensive charge	41	53
2:27	Nikola Jokic offensive foul turnover	41	53
2:20	Aaron Holiday offensive foul	41	53
2:20	Aaron Holiday offensive foul turnover	41	53
2:10	Nikola Jokic makes driving layup	43	53
1:55	Steven Adams misses 9-foot floating jump shot	43	53
1:52	Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound	43	53
1:42	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses 23-foot three point jumper	43	53
1:39	Steven Adams defensive rebound	43	53
1:34	Amen Thompson bad pass turnover (Jamal Murray steals)	43	53
1:22	Spencer Jones misses 23-foot three point jumper	43	53
1:18	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	43	53
1:06	Josh Okogie misses 24-foot three point jumper	43	53
1:02	Nikola Jokic defensive rebound	43	53
57.7	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Steven Adams	43	53
39.2	Nikola Jokic makes 5-foot two point shot	45	53
33.8	Alperen Sengun offensive charge	45	53
33.8	Alperen Sengun offensive foul turnover	45	53
33.8	Rockets Full timeout	45	53
33.8	(00:33.8) [Rockets] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL STANDS) [Rockets] charged with a timeout	45	53
19.3	Nikola Jokic misses 15-foot jumper	45	53
15.7	Josh Okogie defensive rebound	45	53
0.3	Amen Thompson misses driving floating jump shot	45	53
0.1	Rockets offensive team rebound	45	53
0.0	End of the 2nd Quarter	45	53

3rd Quarter

TIME	PLAY	DEN	HOU
12:00	Jabari Smith Jr. enters the game for Aaron Holiday	45	53
11:46	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kevin Durant assists)	45	56
11:24	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses 23-foot three point jumper	45	56
11:21	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	45	56
11:09	Alperen Sengun misses 16-foot jumper	45	56
11:06	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	45	56
10:56	Amen Thompson blocks Nikola Jokic 's 3-foot layup	45	56
10:56	Nuggets offensive team rebound	45	56
10:51	Nikola Jokic misses 13-foot turnaround jump shot	45	56
10:48	Nikola Jokic offensive rebound	45	56
10:47	Nikola Jokic misses two point shot	45	56
10:45	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	45	56
10:37	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 27-foot three point jumper	45	56
10:34	Cameron Johnson defensive rebound	45	56
10:25	Jamal Murray misses 25-foot three point jumper	45	56
10:21	Spencer Jones offensive rebound	45	56
10:19	Josh Okogie personal foul	45	56
10:13	Nikola Jokic makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jamal Murray assists)	48	56
9:44	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Alperen Sengun assists)	48	59
9:29	Jamal Murray misses driving layup	48	59
9:28	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	48	59
9:23	Kevin Durant misses 28-foot running jump shot	48	59
9:21	Nuggets defensive team rebound	48	59
9:03	Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 24-foot three pointer (Jamal Murray assists)	51	59
8:47	Alperen Sengun makes 1-foot driving dunk	51	61
8:26	Nikola Jokic misses 6-foot two point shot	51	61
8:23	Nikola Jokic offensive rebound	51	61
8:23	Nikola Jokic makes two point shot	53	61
8:08	Kevin Durant makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot	53	63
7:47	Nikola Jokic misses driving floating jump shot	53	63
7:47	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	53	63
7:33	Spencer Jones personal foul	53	63
7:18	Nikola Jokic shooting foul	53	63
7:18	(07:18) [Rockets] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	53	63
7:18	Amen Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2	53	64
7:18	Jonas Valanciunas enters the game for Nikola Jokic	53	64
7:18	Amen Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2	53	64
7:17	Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound	53	64
7:00	Jonas Valanciunas misses driving floating jump shot	53	64
6:58	Kevin Durant defensive rebound	53	64
6:51	Alperen Sengun misses 24-foot three point jumper	53	64
6:48	Cameron Johnson defensive rebound	53	64
6:39	Jamal Murray misses 24-foot three point jumper	53	64
6:36	Amen Thompson defensive rebound	53	64
6:34	Amen Thompson offensive charge	53	64
6:34	Amen Thompson offensive foul turnover	53	64
6:34	Nuggets Full timeout	53	64
6:34	Steven Adams enters the game for Alperen Sengun	53	64
6:13	Cameron Johnson misses 17-foot pullup jump shot	53	64
6:09	Steven Adams defensive rebound	53	64
5:49	Jabari Smith Jr. bad pass turnover (Spencer Jones steals)	53	64
5:45	Josh Okogie blocks Cameron Johnson 's 4-foot running layup	53	64
5:45	Nuggets offensive team rebound	53	64
5:39	Jonas Valanciunas makes 10-foot jumper (Jamal Murray assists)	55	64
5:18	Jabari Smith Jr. lost ball turnover (Jonas Valanciunas steals)	55	64
5:11	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses running dunk	55	64
5:09	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	55	64
5:06	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot (Kevin Durant assists)	55	67
4:55	Cameron Johnson makes driving dunk	57	67
4:55	Steven Adams shooting foul	57	67
4:55	Reed Sheppard enters the game for Jabari Smith Jr.	57	67
4:55	Cameron Johnson makes free throw 1 of 1	58	67
4:41	Kevin Durant out of bounds lost ball turnover	58	67
4:41	Bruce Brown enters the game for Cameron Johnson	58	67
4:32	Jamal Murray misses 16-foot pullup jump shot	58	67
4:27	Spencer Jones offensive rebound	58	67
4:26	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses 16-foot pullup jump shot	58	67
4:23	Josh Okogie defensive rebound	58	67
4:12	Kevin Durant makes 14-foot pullup jump shot	58	69
3:42	Bruce Brown misses 24-foot three point jumper	58	69
3:39	Amen Thompson defensive rebound	58	69
3:34	Amen Thompson offensive foul	58	69
3:34	Amen Thompson offensive foul turnover	58	69
3:34	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Tim Hardaway Jr.	58	69
3:22	Jalen Pickett makes 23-foot jumper (Jamal Murray assists)	60	69
2:59	Kevin Durant misses 14-foot jumper	60	69
2:57	Jalen Pickett defensive rebound	60	69
2:44	Spencer Jones misses 23-foot three point jumper	60	69
2:38	Bruce Brown offensive rebound	60	69
2:38	Bruce Brown makes 6-foot floating jump shot	62	69
2:38	Rockets Full timeout	62	69
2:38	Zeke Nnaji enters the game for Spencer Jones	62	69
2:38	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Amen Thompson	62	69
2:25	Reed Sheppard misses 15-foot pullup jump shot	62	69
2:22	Jamal Murray defensive rebound	62	69
2:06	Jonas Valanciunas makes 13-foot jumper (Jalen Pickett assists)	64	69
1:46	Alperen Sengun makes driving layup	64	71
1:30	Josh Okogie personal foul	64	71
1:30	Jabari Smith Jr. enters the game for Kevin Durant	64	71
1:30	Amen Thompson enters the game for Josh Okogie	64	71
1:29	Reed Sheppard personal foul	64	71
1:29	Jalen Pickett makes free throw 1 of 2	65	71
1:29	Jalen Pickett makes free throw 2 of 2	66	71
1:15	Reed Sheppard makes 26-foot three pointer	66	74
1:01	Jamal Murray lost ball turnover (Amen Thompson steals)	66	74
56.3	Reed Sheppard makes 23-foot running jump shot (Amen Thompson assists)	66	77
42.3	Bruce Brown misses driving layup	66	77
40.8	Steven Adams defensive rebound	66	77
28.3	Bruce Brown shooting foul	66	77
28.3	Reed Sheppard makes free throw 1 of 2	66	78
28.3	Nikola Jokic enters the game for Zeke Nnaji	66	78
28.3	Josh Okogie enters the game for Alperen Sengun	66	78
28.3	Reed Sheppard makes free throw 2 of 2	66	79
21.4	Jamal Murray misses two point shot	66	79
19.4	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	66	79
2.6	Reed Sheppard makes 25-foot three pointer	66	82
0.0	End of the 3rd Quarter	66	82

4th Quarter

TIME	PLAY	DEN	HOU
12:00	Tim Hardaway Jr. enters the game for Jonas Valanciunas	66	82
12:00	Cameron Johnson enters the game for Jamal Murray	66	82
12:00	Kevin Durant enters the game for Josh Okogie	66	82
11:48	Nikola Jokic makes layup (Cameron Johnson assists)	68	82
11:26	Jalen Pickett personal foul	68	82
11:14	Bruce Brown blocks Reed Sheppard 's 12-foot pullup jump shot	68	82
11:14	Rockets offensive team rebound	68	82
11:12	Kevin Durant makes 24-foot three point jumper (Amen Thompson assists)	68	85
11:09	Double technical foul: Kevin Durant and Tim Hardaway Jr.	68	85
10:57	Jalen Pickett makes 23-foot jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)	70	85
10:47	Bruce Brown personal foul	70	85
10:41	Tim Hardaway Jr. personal foul	70	85
10:33	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 27-foot three point jumper	70	85
10:28	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	70	85
10:23	Cameron Johnson misses 26-foot three point jumper	70	85
10:19	Bruce Brown offensive rebound	70	85
10:17	Jalen Pickett misses 23-foot three point pullup jump shot	70	85
10:10	Steven Adams defensive rebound	70	85
10:08	Bruce Brown shooting foul	70	85
10:08	Reed Sheppard makes free throw 1 of 2	70	86
10:08	Reed Sheppard makes free throw 2 of 2	70	87
10:01	Bruce Brown makes 1-foot layup (Nikola Jokic assists)	72	87
9:51	Reed Sheppard misses 30-foot three point pullup jump shot	72	87
9:46	Cameron Johnson defensive rebound	72	87
9:40	Cameron Johnson misses 20-foot pullup jump shot	72	87
9:34	Steven Adams defensive rebound	72	87
9:21	Amen Thompson misses 15-foot pullup jump shot	72	87
9:18	Cameron Johnson defensive rebound	72	87
9:12	Tim Hardaway Jr. misses 27-foot running jump shot	72	87
9:09	Reed Sheppard defensive rebound	72	87
8:53	Bruce Brown personal foul	72	87
8:53	Kevin Durant makes free throw 1 of 2	72	88
8:53	Nuggets Full timeout	72	88
8:53	Jamal Murray enters the game for Tim Hardaway Jr.	72	88
8:53	Josh Okogie enters the game for Amen Thompson	72	88
8:53	Kevin Durant makes free throw 2 of 2	72	89
8:40	David Adelman technical foul	72	89
8:40	David Adelman ejected	72	89
8:40	Kevin Durant makes technical free throw	72	90
8:35	Kevin Durant shooting foul	72	90
8:35	Nikola Jokic makes free throw 1 of 2	73	90
8:35	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Kevin Durant	73	90
8:35	Nikola Jokic makes free throw 2 of 2	74	90
8:14	Josh Okogie misses 22-foot three point jumper	74	90
8:11	Jalen Pickett defensive rebound	74	90
8:03	Nikola Jokic misses 21-foot floating jump shot	74	90
7:58	Josh Okogie defensive rebound	74	90
7:46	Reed Sheppard makes 2-foot two point shot	74	92
7:41	Jamal Murray makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot	76	92
7:41	Josh Okogie shooting foul	76	92
7:41	Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 1	77	92
7:24	Nikola Jokic personal foul	77	92
7:24	Jabari Smith Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2	77	93
7:24	Jabari Smith Jr. misses free throw 2 of 2	77	93
7:22	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	77	93
7:10	Jamal Murray makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Nikola Jokic assists)	80	93
7:10	Josh Okogie shooting foul	80	93
7:10	Tim Hardaway Jr. enters the game for Jalen Pickett	80	93
7:10	Kevin Durant enters the game for Steven Adams	80	93
7:10	Amen Thompson enters the game for Josh Okogie	80	93
7:10	Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 1	81	93
6:47	Amen Thompson makes 5-foot two point shot	81	95
6:41	Tim Hardaway Jr. offensive foul	81	95
6:41	Tim Hardaway Jr. offensive foul turnover	81	95
6:34	Kevin Durant makes 26-foot three point jumper (Reed Sheppard assists)	81	98
6:31	Nuggets Full timeout	81	98
6:24	Alperen Sengun shooting foul	81	98
6:24	Nikola Jokic makes free throw 1 of 2	82	98
6:24	Nikola Jokic misses free throw 2 of 2	82	98
6:22	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	82	98
6:03	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kevin Durant assists)	82	101
5:41	Nikola Jokic makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot	84	101
5:22	Bruce Brown personal foul	84	101
5:22	Jabari Smith Jr. technical foul	84	101
5:22	Nikola Jokic makes technical free throw	85	101
5:22	Kevin Durant makes free throw 1 of 2	85	102
5:22	Kevin Durant makes free throw 2 of 2	85	103
5:19	Jamal Murray misses free throw 1 of 2	85	103
5:19	Nuggets offensive team rebound	85	103
5:19	Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2	86	103
5:19	Reed Sheppard personal foul	86	103
4:59	Jabari Smith Jr. makes 2-foot dunk (Reed Sheppard assists)	86	105
4:50	Nikola Jokic lost ball turnover (Alperen Sengun steals)	86	105
4:46	Amen Thompson makes running dunk	86	107
4:46	Nuggets Full timeout	86	107
4:46	Zeke Nnaji enters the game for Nikola Jokic	86	107
4:46	Julian Strawther enters the game for Cameron Johnson	86	107
4:46	Hunter Tyson enters the game for Jamal Murray	86	107
4:46	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Tim Hardaway Jr.	86	107
4:32	Amen Thompson blocks Hunter Tyson 's 4-foot driving layup	86	107
4:31	Nuggets offensive team rebound	86	107
4:21	Jalen Pickett misses 18-foot pullup jump shot	86	107
4:18	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	86	107
4:08	Alperen Sengun lost ball turnover (Bruce Brown steals)	86	107
4:05	Bruce Brown makes running layup (Julian Strawther assists)	88	107
4:05	Reed Sheppard shooting foul	88	107
4:05	Jae'Sean Tate enters the game for Amen Thompson	88	107
4:05	Steven Adams enters the game for Kevin Durant	88	107
4:05	Aaron Holiday enters the game for Alperen Sengun	88	107
4:05	Bruce Brown makes free throw 1 of 1	89	107
3:46	Reed Sheppard out of bounds lost ball turnover	89	107
3:33	Jalen Pickett makes 16-foot pullup jump shot	91	107
3:14	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	91	107
3:11	Steven Adams offensive rebound	91	107
3:11	Steven Adams misses tip shot	91	107
3:10	Aaron Holiday offensive rebound	91	107
3:09	Aaron Holiday bad pass turnover (Bruce Brown steals)	91	107
3:06	Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul	91	107
3:06	Zeke Nnaji makes free throw 1 of 2	92	107
3:06	Zeke Nnaji misses free throw 2 of 2	92	107
3:04	Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound	92	107
2:44	Aaron Holiday out of bounds bad pass turnover	92	107
2:36	Hunter Tyson misses 25-foot three point jumper	92	107
2:35	Bruce Brown offensive rebound	92	107
2:35	Bruce Brown makes two point shot	94	107
2:35	Reed Sheppard shooting foul	94	107
2:35	Alperen Sengun enters the game for Jae'Sean Tate	94	107
2:35	Kevin Durant enters the game for Aaron Holiday	94	107
2:35	Bruce Brown makes free throw 1 of 1	95	107
2:26	Jabari Smith Jr. misses 22-foot three point jumper	95	107
2:23	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	95	107
2:16	Jalen Pickett makes 1-foot two point shot (Bruce Brown assists)	97	107
2:10	Zeke Nnaji personal take foul	97	107
2:10	Steven Adams misses free throw 1 of 2	97	107
2:10	Rockets offensive team rebound	97	107
2:10	Steven Adams makes free throw 2 of 2	97	108
2:06	Jalen Pickett lost ball turnover (Reed Sheppard steals)	97	108
2:02	Reed Sheppard makes 1-foot running dunk	97	110
1:50	Reed Sheppard blocks Julian Strawther 's 7-foot driving layup	97	110
1:50	Nuggets offensive team rebound	97	110
1:46	Julian Strawther misses driving floating jump shot	97	110
1:45	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	97	110
1:44	Alperen Sengun out of bounds lost ball turnover	97	110
1:35	Hunter Tyson misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	97	110
1:30	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	97	110
1:27	Rockets Full timeout	97	110
1:27	Amen Thompson enters the game for Steven Adams	97	110
1:14	Hunter Tyson personal foul	97	110
1:14	Amen Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2	97	111
1:14	Amen Thompson misses free throw 2 of 2	97	111
1:12	Bruce Brown defensive rebound	97	111
1:06	Kevin Durant shooting foul	97	111
1:06	Julian Strawther makes free throw 1 of 3	98	111
1:06	Julian Strawther misses free throw 2 of 3	98	111
1:06	Nuggets offensive team rebound	98	111
1:06	Julian Strawther makes free throw 3 of 3	99	111
1:00	Jabari Smith Jr. makes dunk (Amen Thompson assists)	99	113
51.8	Bruce Brown misses driving floating jump shot	99	113
48.7	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	99	113
28.8	Amen Thompson makes dunk (Reed Sheppard assists)	99	115
15.1	Zeke Nnaji misses 24-foot three point jumper	99	115
11.9	Hunter Tyson offensive rebound	99	115
11.9	Hunter Tyson makes two point shot	101	115
0.0	End of the 4th Quarter	101	115
0.0	End of Game	101	115

Time, Location & Referees

Game Information

Venue

Ball Arena

Denver, CO

Date & Time

10:00 PM, December 20, 2025

Coverage

Space City Home Network, Altitude Sports, NBA TV

Attendance

19,955

Referees

Eric Dalen, Marc Davis, Tyler Ricks

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	62	20	.756	L1
Houston	52	30	.634	W1
New Orleans	26	56	.317	L2
Dallas	26	56	.317	W1
Memphis	25	57	.305	L8

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	64	18	.780	L2
Denver	54	28	.659	W12
Minnesota	49	33	.598	W2
Portland	42	40	.512	W2
Utah	22	60	.268	L1

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Durant scores 31, Sheppard's 11-point flurry helps Rockets end Nuggets' 6-game win streak, 115-101

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