Nuggets finish road week strong after setback in Houston

The Nuggets week on the road began with a defeat to the Rockets, but Denver made up for it with a strong finish

Nov 14, 2026, 8:33 PM

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The Nuggets week on the road began with a defeat to the Rockets, but Denver made up for it with a strong finish.

The Nuggets did not make their latest road trip easy, but they made it worthwhile. After an offensive struggle in Houston on Monday, Denver recovered with a tense victory in Memphis and another win over New Orleans on Saturday. The 2–1 week from Nov. 8–14 pushed the Nuggets to 7–4, giving them consecutive victories and a more encouraging outlook before returning home.

There was no single formula behind the results. Houston exposed the cost of a slow offensive start. Memphis required a major fourth quarter from Jamal Murray and timely scoring from Cameron Johnson. New Orleans brought another productive night from Nikola Jokić and enough offense to complete the trip with a 116–108 victory.

The overall takeaway is encouraging, though not uncomplicated. Denver continues to find ways to win without consistently controlling games for all four quarters, much like their friends at Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos. That distinction matters as the schedule brings more opportunities to measure the Nuggets against strong opponents.

For now, they have something tangible to show for a week away from Ball Arena: two conference victories, another successful response to a loss and a chance to extend their winning streak at home.

Nov. 9: Rockets 110, Nuggets 100 – Too much ground to recover

Monday’s loss in Houston began with a problem Denver could not fully overcome: the offense spent too much of the first half struggling to produce.

The Nuggets scored 24 points in the opening quarter and only 16 in the second, entering halftime down 54–40. Houston’s advantage reached 16 early in the third before Denver finally found a sustained response.

That response was substantial. An 18–2 run tied the game at 60 with about five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Jokić, Murray and Johnson each made 3-pointers during the surge, while Houston missed nine consecutive shots and committed two turnovers. What had looked like a game slipping away suddenly became competitive again.

The comeback did not last.

Denver remained within reach in the fourth quarter, drawing within four points with less than seven minutes to play. Alperen Şengün answered with a basket, and Fred VanVleet followed with a 3-pointer to extend Houston’s lead to 96–87. The Rockets protected the advantage from there.

Jokić contributed 25 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, another substantial all-around performance. Houston received 23 points from Kevin Durant and 20 from Şengün, improving to 8–3 while Denver fell to 5–4.

The Nuggets scored 60 points after halftime, but the early deficit left little room for another lapse. Their third-quarter rally demonstrated the offense’s ability to change a game quickly. Houston’s answer demonstrated why Denver cannot rely on those rallies as its preferred route to victory.

Against an opponent capable of responding through several different players, merely getting back into the game was not enough.

Nov. 11: Nuggets 123, Grizzlies 118 – Murray delivers the finish

Wednesday’s visit to Memphis produced a better start and, more importantly, a better ending.

Denver led 35–24 after the first quarter and 65–52 at halftime. Memphis then scored 38 points in the third, cutting the Nuggets’ advantage to 94–90 entering the final period. Another sizable lead had narrowed, and Denver needed someone to take charge of the closing minutes.

Murray did exactly that.

He scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, finishing 12-for-19 from the field and adding eight assists. His scoring supplied the answer Denver needed as the Grizzlies kept applying pressure.

Jokić added 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Johnson finished with 23 points, including a crucial stretch late in the game. When Ty Jerome’s basket brought Memphis within 115–113 with 2:42 remaining, Johnson scored Denver’s next five points. His 3-pointer off a Jokić pass made it 120–113 with 1:01 left.

Even that was not quite the end. Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 6.9 seconds remaining. Denver survived the final threat and secured the five-point victory.

Jerome and Jaylen Wells scored 22 points apiece for Memphis. Cedric Coward contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Boozer finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Grizzlies had enough production to keep the outcome uncertain, but Denver had the decisive offensive possessions.

That makes the victory worth separating from a simple “held on” description. The Nuggets did allow Memphis back into contention. They also responded with deliberate, effective scoring when the margin became uncomfortable.

Murray’s fourth quarter carried the biggest share of that responsibility. Johnson’s late contribution ensured he did not carry it alone.

Nov. 14: Nuggets 116, Pelicans 108 – A winning end to the trip

Saturday’s stop in New Orleans brought another familiar opponent and another victory.

Denver beat the Pelicans 116–108, with Jokić recording 26 points and 10 assists and Murray adding 23 points. Jokić made nine of 14 field-goal attempts, an efficient scoring performance alongside his playmaking.

The Nuggets led 56–51 at halftime. At that point, Jokić had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Murray had 10 points and four assists. Six other Denver players had scored between four and seven points, giving the offense contributions beyond its two leading names.

The final margin was eight points. Not quite a runaway, but enough to complete the week successfully.

It also extended Denver’s success against New Orleans. The Nuggets had already beaten the Pelicans in overtime at home on Oct. 24 and on the road Oct. 28. Saturday made it three victories over the same opponent during the opening portion of the season.

The practical value was straightforward. Denver avoided following an encouraging Memphis victory with a setback in the final game of the trip. Jokić’s combination of efficient scoring and passing helped deliver the outcome, and Murray supplied another important offensive contribution.

There is still a difference between winning a game and eliminating every concern within it. But the Nuggets returned from New Orleans with the result they needed.

The Western outlook and the week ahead

Denver entered Saturday ninth in the Western Conference at 6–4. Its pregame statistical profile captured the early-season tension: ninth in offensive rating at 117.6, but 22nd in defensive rating at 116.4. Those rankings preceded the New Orleans victory, but they offer a useful description of where improvement remains necessary.

The offense gives Denver a chance against difficult opponents. More dependable defense would reduce how often Murray, Jokić and the rest of the squad must produce a precise late-game answer.

The upcoming schedule offers an immediate opportunity to test that balance. Denver hosts Phoenix on Monday, Nov. 16, Boston on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and Houston on Friday, Nov. 20, before visiting Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 22. Friday’s Rockets matchup is an NBA Cup game.

Houston is the most direct measuring stick: a rematch with the team that handed Denver its only loss this week. Boston adds another demanding assignment, while the Phoenix game gives the Nuggets their first opportunity to extend the current winning streak.

A 2-1 road week is a solid return. The next step is making the same progress at home, and doing it with fewer stretches that require a rescue.