Nuggets blow out Rockets and find their missing rhythm

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post on Mar 12, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Nuggets haven’t looked like those Nuggets for quite a while now.

They were in a 6-7 funk that included an embarrassing 39-point home loss to the Knicks last Friday.

But their 129-93 blowout of the Rockets in a Western Conference showdown Wednesday night at Ball Arena conjured up memories of the healthy, dynamic team that opened the season with a 12-3 record.

“That version of us was very good,” coach David Adleman said before Wednesday’s game. “We just have to get (back) to that point.

“Am I frustrated right now? Yes. The players are. We understand that. But nothing replaces playing with each other and finding rhythm.”

Denver’s rhythm was near-perfect in a game that earned Denver the tie-breaker vs. Houston for future playoff seeding. Denver’s defense ignited the offense, which flowed largely unobstructed in the second half.

Adelman said Denver’s third quarter was “arguably one of our best five quarters of the year.”

Jamal Murray — 11 for 21 overall, 3 of 4 from 3-point land — led the Nuggets with 30 points. But it was Christian Braun who lit Denver’s fire. He scored 19 points, making eight of nine shots, including three 3-pointers in four attempts.

“I think we jelled pretty well tonight,” said Braun, who is starting to look like he’s close to 100% healthy as he recovers from the ankle injury that’s cost him 36 games this season.

“As long as we get on the same page before the playoffs is what matters,” Braun continued.

Nikola Jokic had an effective, albeit slightly odd line in three quarters: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, plus five steals and five turnovers in the first half.

Houston star Kevin Durant was mostly a no-show. He took only eight shots and finished with just 11 points.

The blowout victory also gave the Nuggets an added bonus: rest.

After Wednesday’s late-night game, Denver hopped on a flight and expected to land in San Antonio at 4 a.m. ahead of Thursday night’s game against the sizzling Spurs, who own the second seed in the West. Jokic played just 30 minutes, Braun 26, Murray 31, Aaron Gordon 22 and Cam Johnson 25.

The Nuggets starters put together an impressive run to close out the first half. Coming away with three steals in the final 3:30 of the second quarter, the Nuggets outscored the Rockets 11-5 to take a 53-47 lead. Braun scored nine of those points and rained a 31-foot 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1.1 seconds left.

Denver’s defense has been a liability for much of the season, but its D received an A-plus in the first quarter. The Nuggets took a 24-20 lead, limiting the Rockets to 40.9% shooting (9 for 22), including just 1 for 8 on 3-pointers.

Murray’s nine-point first quarter sparked Denver’s early lead.

“Tonight was one of those examples of what we can be,” Adelman said. “We have to do it more consistently, but I just liked the overall juice and energy. I liked the pace of play offensively. And, obviously, I liked our defense. We really flew around and got our hands on balls. We haven’t done a lot of that (lately).”

But they did Wednesday night, outscoring the Rockets 24-12 on fastbreak points.