Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman lauded his team’s situational play following Monday’s 128-125 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets. “I was really proud of the guys. They just did what they had to do,” Adelman said regarding the team’s late-game execution.
Adelman explained the challenges of managing matchups without Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas on the floor. “There’s a lot of decisions… a ton of film to watch that we can work on in the case that Valanciunas and Jokic foul out of a game,” he noted.
The Nuggets executed their strategy effectively in overtime, building a 124-117 lead after a Spencer Jones three-pointer. Adelman praised Jones’ growth and confidence, highlighting his defensive assignments and late-game shooting. “Nothing but positive things to say about Spence… he makes a three in the biggest part of the game,” Adelman said.
Adelman also addressed the team’s rotations in light of injuries, including Peyton Watson exiting early with a right trunk contusion. “When Peyton goes down, somebody else steps up… it changed us defensively… he got into space and scored,” he said.
The coach emphasized Denver’s focus on spacing and situational basketball. “Our spacing was much better towards the end… once we really open the court up for our two guys, we got really good looks,” Adelman said.
Denver relied on Jokic and Jamal Murray to anchor the offense, with the Serbian star posting 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Murray scoring 35 points, including six of Denver’s 11 overtime points. Adelman noted the team’s ability to find the right matchups and execute efficiently despite the shorthanded roster.
The Nuggets’ depth was critical in containing Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, who combined for 58 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists. Adelman highlighted the importance of defensive effort and rotations in containing Houston’s stars. “We were doubling a lot, flying around, and keeping them off the glass… everybody did their part,” he said.
Denver improved to five straight wins, marking its first home victory since Nov. 8. The Nuggets shot 51 percent from the field and 44 percent from three, while maintaining efficiency at the free-throw line in overtime.
Looking ahead, Adelman underscored the team’s resilience and adaptability. “It’s been a unique situation for us… there’s so many layers to it… we’re going to keep working on the situational basketball as best we can defensively,” he said.
Denver returns to Ball Arena on Thursday to host the Orlando Magic, aiming to extend its winning streak.
