Mike Malone likes the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. Although his team was 1-3 on their road trip, Malone claimed his main goal was to bring his squad back to playing “Nuggets basketball.”

Friday night at the Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-86 to send them home with their fourth road trip loss.

After scoring 34 points in their previous game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Jalen Green scored 25 on 10-of-18 shooting from the field, 3-of-8 from behind the arc. Alperen Şengün led the Rockets with 21 points (8-of-18 FG), 14 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The Rockets started the game slowly as Nikola Jokić gave the Nuggets a 5-0 lead with two quick baskets. Houston’s first points came via Fred VanVleet’s three at 10:49. A few possessions later, Green’s 3-point field goal knotted the game at five.

After a competitive game, Aaron Holiday made a driving layup to give Houston a 21-19 lead with 2:37 left in the first quarter. Holiday’s layup ignited a 13-0 run for the Rockets. He scored seven in the triumph.

One of Jokić’s best games of the season. He led with 38 points (14-31 FG), 19 rebounds, and 8 assists.

In-Season Tournament update:

The Rockets beаt the Nuggets to stay alive in the In-Season Tournament. With the win, the Rockets are 2-1 in Group B and in position to proceed to the knockout stage.