Ben DuBose, Rockets WireSat, November 22, 2025 at 6:10 AM UTC·1 min readHOUSTON -- The Rockets had their five-game winning streak snapped, and likely their hopes of advancing in Emirates NBA Cup 2025 play, courtesy of Friday’s 112-109 loss (box score) to the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center.
Denver is now 12-3 in the 2025-26 season and 2-1 in Western Conference Group C action, while Houston is 10-4 and 1-2. Only one game remains in group-stage play, and the Nuggets own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementReed Sheppard scored a career-high 27 points for the Rockets on 9-of-13 shooting (69.2%), but Houston’s All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun only scored 27, combined, while making just 11-of-28 shots (39.3%).
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a game-high 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists while making 11-of-20 shots (55.0%), 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%), and 8-of-10 on free throws (80.0%).
Next up for the Rockets is the start of a four-game road trip, which begins Monday at Phoenix. Tipoff versus the Suns (9-6) is at 8:30 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised regionally via Space City Home Network and nationally on Peacock.
More: With new, silent approach, Alperen Sengun improving at free-throw line
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets’ stars underwhelm in NBA Cup loss to Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
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