⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Nuggets got 15 points ahead of the pace we expected in the first quarter, then it evened out by full time.
Where it moved
▲ DEN better than we expected
▼ HOU better than we expected
The second quarter was where it moved most, 19 points worse than our numbers for the Nuggets.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Nuggets won, and why the Rockets did not.
From the game
Lived at the line, 25 free throws to their eleven- Owned the paint, 62 points inside to 36
- A 13-0 run took them from 5 down to 8 up in the third quarter
- Made eight threes to their eighteen
- They shot well above their usual, eighteen of 40 from three
- Kept giving it away, eighteen turnovers to their eleven, and outscored them 31-13 off them
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Nuggets
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run from level to 8 points up
Q1 4:33 · DEN 22-14 HOU
- 13-0 run
A 13-0 run took them from 5 down to 8 up
Q3 3:05 · DEN 88-80 HOU
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run stretched a 7-point lead to 16
Q4 8:08 · DEN 106-90 HOU
Bad plays
- Turnover
Jameer Nelson lost ball turnover
Q4 1:27 · DEN 110-104 HOU
Rockets
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run took them from 6 down to 2 up
Q2 3:29 · DEN 50-52 HOU
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run from level to 9 points up
Q3 11:11 · DEN 58-67 HOU
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run cut a 11-point deficit to 2
Q4 2:00 · DEN 110-108 HOU
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
📊The numbers
| DEN | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| 51% | Shooting from the field | 47% |
| 8 | Threes made | 18 |
| 32% | Three-point accuracy | 45% |
| 22 | Free throws made | 8 |
| 60 | Rebounds | 32 |
| 15 | Offensive rebounds | 5 |
| 26 | Assists | 26 |
| 62 | Points in the paint | 36 |
| 24 | Fast break points | 17 |
| 31 | Points off turnovers | 13 |
| 18 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 8 | Steals | 14 |
| 5 | Blocks | 1 |
