The Houston Rockets ended the six-game win streak of the Denver Nuggets, 115-101, on Saturday evening.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 31 points, while Reed Sheppard contributed 28 points with 6 for 9 from long range, as 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.
Rockets’ Jabari Smith scored 22 points with 5 for 11 from long range, while Houston shot 19 of 35 from long range 54% to Denver’s 8 of 29.
Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic with 25 points, and Jamal Murray scored 16.
Meanwhile, Denver head 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, as it gave the Rockets an 82-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Denver elite defender Peyton Watson was sidelined with a right trunk bruise, reportedly to guard Durant.
The rematch came three days after Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating in Houston’s 128-125 overtime loss on Monday.
Rockets aim for another win against the Kings on tomorrow night, while the Nuggets will host the Jazz on Monday.
