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12/20 18:47 CST Durant scores 31, Sheppard's 11-point flurry helps Rockets end
Nuggets' 6-game win streak, 115-101
Durant scores 31, Sheppard's 11-point flurry helps Rockets end Nuggets' 6-game
win streak, 115-101
By ASHLYN STAPLETON
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) --- Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Reed Sheppard scored the final
11 points of the third quarter to blow open a close game, and the Houston
Rockets rolled past the Denver Nuggets 115-101 on Saturday.
Sheppard was 6 for 9 from long range and scored 28 points. 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.
The Rockets avenged a loss earlier in the week at Denver and snapped the
Nuggets' six-game winning streak. Durant was 5 for 6 from 3-point range and
Jabari Smith was 5 for 11 from long range for 22 points.
The Rockets shot 19 of 35 from long range (54%) to Denver's 8 of 29 (27%).
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points and Jamal Murray scored 16.
Denver 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. He sank two
free throws and capped his run with another 3-pointer that gave the Rockets an
82-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Little went right for Denver, which was without star defender Peyton Watson
(right trunk bruise) to guard Durant.
The rematch came three days after Rockets coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 for
publicly criticizing the officiating in Houston's 128-125 overtime loss to the
Nuggets on Monday night.
He had little to complain about in this one, especially after Sheppard's 3s
short-circuited Denver's comeback.
The Rockets took a 53-45 halftime lead after Josh Okogie hit a trio of
3-pointers, fueling an 11-0 run in the second quarter that helped Houston take
control.
Up next Rockets: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Nuggets: Host the Utah Jazz on Monday night. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Up next Rockets: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Nuggets: Host the Utah Jazz on Monday night. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
