Final
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
135 – 117
2026-27 · Preseason · Preseason
Game state source: whynba · Retrieved Oct 9, 6:37 pm EDTDenver Nuggets at Houston Rockets
2025-26 · Regular season · All results that day · Denver Nuggets vs Houston Rockets head-to-head · Denver Nuggets schedule · Houston Rockets schedule
Final
Away
Denver Nuggets
112
Home
Houston Rockets
109
Venue: Toyota Center
2025 NBA Cup · Group stage
Observed Sep 23, 2026, 20:07 UTC.
Verified 2025 NBA Cup result. This archive covers the Cup, not the complete 2025–26 NBA season.
Historical Cup result WHYNBA reorganized reported Cup results and period scores into verified home/away roles. Neutral-site roles are nominal; the championship does not count toward regular-season records. Home/away sources: Home team season log · Away team season log.
Quarter scores
| Period | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 25 | 12 |
| Q2 | 21 | 37 |
| Q3 | 34 | 29 |
| Q4 | 32 | 31 |
Game recap · 2025 NBA Cup results
Player box scores and scoring plays are shown below when available. Coverage varies by game.
Game recap
The Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 112-109 on the road on Friday, November 21, 2025 at Toyota Center. Nikola Jokić had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the Denver Nuggets. Reed Sheppard had 27 points, 0 rebounds and 4 assists for the Houston Rockets.
The Denver Nuggets trailed 49-46 at halftime and came back to win. Their best stretch was the first quarter, won 25-12. Double-digit figures in two or more categories: Jabari Smith Jr. (double-double, Houston Rockets), Nikola Jokić (double-double, Denver Nuggets), Jamal Murray (double-double, Denver Nuggets). Bench points: Denver Nuggets 33, Houston Rockets 34. Jamal Murray had 26 points, 2 rebounds and 10 assists in support for the winners.
Written by the whynba data desk from the licensed final box score and period scores.
Retrieved Sep 23, 2026, 20:07:06 UTC. Source update time is unavailable.
Controls this game's status, scores and reported player statistics only. Other page sections may still update. Pausing lasts until you resume or reload.
Reported player statistics
this may be a partial box score. A dash means unavailable. Zero minutes alone does not establish a DNP designation.
| Player | Team | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | +/− | Retrieved (UTC) |
|---|
Quick answers
- Who won Denver Nuggets vs Houston Rockets?
- The Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 112-109 on November 21, 2025.
- Who led the scoring?
- Nikola Jokić scored 34 for the Denver Nuggets with 10 rebounds; Reed Sheppard scored 27 for the Houston Rockets.
Match dossier
Inside the game
Box score
Game leaders
Denver Nuggets
- Points
- 34 Nikola Jokić
- Rebounds
- 10 Nikola Jokić
- Assists
- 10 Jamal Murray
Houston Rockets
- Points
- 27 Reed Sheppard
- Rebounds
- 11 Jabari Smith Jr.
- Assists
- 6 Alperen Sengun
Jamal Murray double-double (26 PTS, 10 AST) · Nikola Jokić double-double (34 PTS, 10 REB) · Jabari Smith Jr. double-double (21 PTS, 11 REB)
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG | 3P | FT | PF | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamal Murray starter | 40:32 | 26 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10-16 | 3-7 | 3-4 | 2 | +6 |
| Nikola Jokić starter | 39:20 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11-20 | 4-8 | 8-10 | 5 | +4 |
| Peyton Watson starter | 34:14 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 2 | +15 |
| Cameron Johnson starter | 32:13 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2-6 | 1-2 | 4-4 | 3 | -3 |
| Aaron Gordon starter | 3:21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0 | +4 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. bench | 31:30 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5-11 | 2-7 | 0-1 | 0 | +4 |
| Spencer Jones bench | 21:44 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 4 | -1 |
| Bruce Brown bench | 20:52 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4-8 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 3 | -15 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas bench | 16:14 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4-8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | +1 |
Not available: Christian Braun, Julian Strawther
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG | 3P | FT | PF | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amen Thompson starter | 43:27 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10-18 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 3 | -10 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. starter | 36:57 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7-20 | 5-11 | 2-3 | 6 | -8 |
| Alperen Sengun starter | 36:09 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6-14 | 0-1 | 2-3 | 5 | -16 |
| Kevin Durant starter | 35:15 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5-14 | 1-5 | 2-3 | 3 | -7 |
| Steven Adams starter | 23:07 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 1 | +14 |
| Reed Sheppard bench | 36:45 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9-13 | 5-8 | 4-6 | 2 | +13 |
| Aaron Holiday bench | 13:29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 1-1 | 1 | +3 |
| Josh Okogie bench | 11:07 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 1 | +4 |
| Clint Capela bench | 3:45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | -8 |
Not available: Dorian Finney-Smith, Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet
| Denver Nuggets | Stat | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| 21/27 (77%) | Free throws | 13/20 (65%) |
| 29/47 (61%) | 2 pointers | 27/56 (48%) |
| 11/29 (37%) | 3 pointers | 14/36 (38%) |
| 40/76 (52%) | Field goals | 41/92 (44%) |
| 38 | Rebounds | 40 |
| 27 | Defensive rebounds | 23 |
| 11 | Offensive rebounds | 17 |
| 28 | Assists | 21 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 14 |
| 8 | Steals | 8 |
| 6 | Blocks | 2 |
| 20 | Fouls | 22 |
| 8 | Max points in a row | 12 |
| 35:40 | Time spent in lead | 9:46 |
| 13 | Biggest lead | 5 |
Largest margin: 13 points.
Game flow
- Lead changes
- 10
- Times tied
- 7
- Largest lead · Denver Nuggets
- 13 Q1 1:47
- Largest lead · Houston Rockets
- 5 Q4 8:54
- Longest run
- 12-0 Houston Rockets · Q2 5:04 to Q2 3:14
Scoring plays
Q1 · 19 scoring plays
| Time left | Team | Play | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 2 | 0 |
| 11:34 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 2 | 2 |
| 11:19 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 3-pt field goal | 5 | 2 |
| 10:55 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 5 | 4 |
| 9:58 | Denver Nuggets | Aaron Gordon Free throw | 6 | 4 |
| 9:02 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson 2-pt field goal | 8 | 4 |
| 7:24 | Denver Nuggets | Tim Hardaway Jr. 3-pt field goal | 11 | 4 |
| 6:31 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant 2-pt field goal | 11 | 6 |
| 6:11 | Denver Nuggets | Jonas Valanciunas 2-pt field goal | 13 | 6 |
| 5:43 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant 2-pt field goal | 13 | 8 |
| 4:23 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 3-pt field goal | 16 | 8 |
| 3:32 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson 2-pt field goal | 18 | 8 |
| 3:07 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson Free throw | 19 | 8 |
| 2:43 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 20 | 8 |
| 1:47 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 21 | 8 |
| 1:30 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant 2-pt field goal | 21 | 10 |
| 1:12 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 23 | 10 |
| 0:53 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 2-pt field goal | 23 | 12 |
| 0:26 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown 2-pt field goal | 25 | 12 |
Q2 · 29 scoring plays
| Time left | Team | Play | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:39 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 3-pt field goal | 25 | 15 |
| 11:06 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun Free throw | 25 | 16 |
| 9:39 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 27 | 16 |
| 9:01 | Denver Nuggets | Jonas Valanciunas 2-pt field goal | 29 | 16 |
| 8:46 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 29 | 18 |
| 8:31 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown 2-pt field goal | 31 | 18 |
| 8:17 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 2-pt field goal | 31 | 20 |
| 7:45 | Houston Rockets | Steven Adams 2-pt field goal | 31 | 22 |
| 7:28 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 2-pt field goal | 31 | 24 |
| 6:55 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 2-pt field goal | 31 | 26 |
| 6:32 | Denver Nuggets | Jonas Valanciunas 2-pt field goal | 33 | 26 |
| 6:00 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown 2-pt field goal | 35 | 26 |
| 5:27 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown Free throw | 36 | 26 |
| 5:27 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown Free throw | 37 | 26 |
| 5:04 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant 3-pt field goal | 37 | 29 |
| 4:42 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 3-pt field goal | 37 | 32 |
| 4:19 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant Free throw | 37 | 33 |
| 3:50 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 3-pt field goal | 37 | 36 |
| 3:14 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 37 | 38 |
| 3:03 | Denver Nuggets | Tim Hardaway Jr. 2-pt field goal | 39 | 38 |
| 2:16 | Denver Nuggets | Tim Hardaway Jr. 2-pt field goal | 41 | 38 |
| 2:02 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 3-pt field goal | 41 | 41 |
| 1:28 | Houston Rockets | Josh Okogie 3-pt field goal | 41 | 44 |
| 1:07 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 3-pt field goal | 44 | 44 |
| 0:43 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson 2-pt field goal | 46 | 44 |
| 0:32 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 46 | 46 |
| 0:32 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson Free throw | 46 | 47 |
| 0:02 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. Free throw | 46 | 48 |
| 0:02 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. Free throw | 46 | 49 |
Q3 · 33 scoring plays
| Time left | Team | Play | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:28 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 48 | 49 |
| 10:53 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 50 | 49 |
| 10:19 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 3-pt field goal | 53 | 49 |
| 9:59 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 53 | 51 |
| 9:38 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 55 | 51 |
| 9:12 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson 2-pt field goal | 57 | 51 |
| 8:32 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 57 | 53 |
| 8:13 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 57 | 55 |
| 7:51 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 3-pt field goal | 60 | 55 |
| 7:21 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 62 | 55 |
| 6:54 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson Free throw | 63 | 55 |
| 6:54 | Denver Nuggets | Peyton Watson Free throw | 64 | 55 |
| 6:34 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 2-pt field goal | 64 | 57 |
| 6:19 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 3-pt field goal | 67 | 57 |
| 5:52 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 69 | 57 |
| 5:30 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard 3-pt field goal | 69 | 60 |
| 5:30 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard Free throw | 69 | 61 |
| 4:48 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 2-pt field goal | 69 | 63 |
| 4:36 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant Free throw | 69 | 64 |
| 4:32 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pt field goal | 69 | 67 |
| 4:18 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 70 | 67 |
| 4:18 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 71 | 67 |
| 3:58 | Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant 2-pt field goal | 71 | 69 |
| 3:58 | Houston Rockets | Steven Adams Free throw | 71 | 70 |
| 3:20 | Houston Rockets | Josh Okogie 3-pt field goal | 71 | 73 |
| 2:59 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 72 | 73 |
| 2:59 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 73 | 73 |
| 2:27 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pt field goal | 73 | 76 |
| 2:17 | Denver Nuggets | Tim Hardaway Jr. 2-pt field goal | 75 | 76 |
| 1:41 | Houston Rockets | Aaron Holiday Free throw | 75 | 77 |
| 1:36 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun Free throw | 75 | 78 |
| 1:20 | Denver Nuggets | Jonas Valanciunas 2-pt field goal | 77 | 78 |
| 0:42 | Denver Nuggets | Tim Hardaway Jr. 3-pt field goal | 80 | 78 |
Q4 · 34 scoring plays
| Time left | Team | Play | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:34 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 80 | 80 |
| 11:22 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 82 | 80 |
| 10:57 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pt field goal | 82 | 83 |
| 10:36 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pt field goal | 82 | 86 |
| 10:13 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 3-pt field goal | 85 | 86 |
| 9:58 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard Free throw | 85 | 87 |
| 9:58 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard Free throw | 85 | 88 |
| 9:42 | Denver Nuggets | Bruce Brown 2-pt field goal | 87 | 88 |
| 9:25 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 87 | 90 |
| 8:54 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 87 | 92 |
| 8:42 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 89 | 92 |
| 8:24 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 89 | 94 |
| 8:05 | Denver Nuggets | Spencer Jones 3-pt field goal | 92 | 94 |
| 6:40 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 94 | 94 |
| 6:22 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 94 | 96 |
| 5:09 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson 3-pt field goal | 97 | 96 |
| 4:54 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson Free throw | 98 | 96 |
| 4:54 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson Free throw | 99 | 96 |
| 3:40 | Houston Rockets | Reed Sheppard Free throw | 99 | 97 |
| 3:16 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić 2-pt field goal | 101 | 97 |
| 2:53 | Houston Rockets | Steven Adams 2-pt field goal | 101 | 99 |
| 2:30 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 103 | 99 |
| 1:50 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 2-pt field goal | 103 | 101 |
| 0:47 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray 2-pt field goal | 105 | 101 |
| 0:24 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray Free throw | 106 | 101 |
| 0:24 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray Free throw | 107 | 101 |
| 0:21 | Houston Rockets | Amen Thompson 3-pt field goal | 107 | 104 |
| 0:17 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson Free throw | 108 | 104 |
| 0:17 | Denver Nuggets | Cameron Johnson Free throw | 109 | 104 |
| 0:12 | Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun 2-pt field goal | 109 | 106 |
| 0:11 | Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray Free throw | 110 | 106 |
| 0:06 | Houston Rockets | Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pt field goal | 110 | 109 |
| 0:03 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 111 | 109 |
| 0:03 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić Free throw | 112 | 109 |
2025-26 season series
After this game: Denver Nuggets 1-0. Final series: Denver Nuggets 3-1.
- Nov 21: Denver Nuggets 112 at Houston Rockets 109 (this game)
- Dec 15: Houston Rockets 125 at Denver Nuggets 128
- Dec 20: Houston Rockets 115 at Denver Nuggets 101
- Mar 11: Houston Rockets 93 at Denver Nuggets 129
Highlights
Game statistics · retrieved Oct 9, 2026 02:29.
Historical tipoff shown in your selected time zone. Game times: Eastern Time.
Tipoff in UTC
Nov 22, 2025 · 02:30 UTC