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00:00Welcome to Space City Home Network's presentation of Houston Rockets Basketball, your front row seed to the Rockets and Astros.
00:08From Ball Arena here in Denver, Space City Home Network presents Houston Rockets Basketball.
00:30As for the second time this week, we've got the now 16-8 Rockets and the 20-6 Denver Nuggets.
00:36Happy holidays, good afternoon, and welcome into our coverage once again of Rockets Basketball right here on Space City Home Network with Ryan Hollins.
00:45I am Craig Ackerman. We will hear from Vanessa Richardson shortly.
00:48And Ryan, we're back at the scene of the crime here in Denver.
00:51The Rockets have lost two straight, both in overtime, both very painful for a variety of different reasons.
00:57But the Rockets could really use a win here today against a Denver team.
01:01Let's just face it, they're playing some of the best basketball in the league.
01:04They've won six straight games.
01:06Here's the focus for Houston. Get back to the fundamentals.
01:09You know, do what made you great.
01:11That culture of playing hard, hitting the glass, playing together, putting everything out on the court.
01:17And again, the last game here was tough.
01:19There were some calls that could have went both ways, and they didn't swing in the favor of the Houston Rockets.
01:24And in that game against the Pelicans, it was just disappointing.
01:26You know, we'll be honest, our group is better than that.
01:28So expect an extremely motivated group led by Imei Udoka here this afternoon.
01:34Now, when the Rockets were here on Monday, we hyped up the matchup between Nikola Jokic and Albert Shingun.
01:39And of course, we were not disappointed with that particular matchup.
01:43It was a historic game.
01:44We'll kind of get into the weeds more on that a little bit later on in the show.
01:47But here we are, round number three between Houston and Denver and Jokic and Shingun.
01:51What are you looking for here today?
01:53A chess match.
01:54You know, these guys are going to have to have counters for their counters.
01:57And the tough thing is that you know Nikola Jokic prepared for every coverage you can throw at him.
02:02So again, you fight, you get physical, you keep bodies on him.
02:05And again, you try to catch on to his tendencies.
02:07But for Alprin Shingun, the true real challenge here comes with consistency, staying in attack mode, being better on the defensive end,
02:14and understanding and embracing his role in having a win-or-go-home type of mentality here tonight.
02:20I know it's early in the season, but this is a monster game for the Houston Rockets.
02:24And even more importantly, Alprin Shingun.
02:26Yeah, no question about it.
02:27Now, we also talked about Jamal Murray going into that game on Monday because, well, he's having the best season of his career.
02:33He's been really hot as of late.
02:34He's played extremely well against the Rockets, including a 35-point game in their win here on Monday.
02:40Let's just say the Rockets have to contain him here today.
02:42Craig, he's tough to guard when I played against him because he remains in attack mode.
02:48He gets downhill.
02:49He probes pick and rolls.
02:51He's live from the time that he crosses half court.
02:54And then you can't put your hands on him because he's a physical driver.
02:57He likes to look for contact.
02:59He's crafty.
03:00He can fade away.
03:01But again, with a player like that, he's thirsty.
03:03So you know he's going to shoot the basketball.
03:06So you've got to be prepared.
03:07You've got to do it by committee.
03:09And even worse, you can't help as much out of Jokic or the other Nuggets like you'd like to because he's that good.
03:14And as you talked about, you've got to keep him off the line.
03:15The Rockets have been hurt badly by their opponents the last two losses at the free throw line.
03:20Now, look, the Rockets are frustrated, especially after blowing that 25-point lead in New Orleans.
03:26Their defense has slipped recently, and Vanessa will key on that when we return as we count you down to the Rockets and the Nuggets.
03:34It's part three right here on Space City Home Network.
03:41Rockets basketball on Space City Home Network is brought to you by your local Toyota dealers.
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03:49Michelob Ultra Zero.
03:50Make a plan to get home safe.
03:52A reminder from your friends at Silver Eagle Distributors Houston.
03:56And by Memorial Hermann Rockets Orthopedics.
03:58Preferred orthopedic and sports medicine provider for the Houston Rockets.
04:02We welcome you back to Denver, where the Houston Rockets are getting ready to take on the Denver Nuggets.
04:10Hi, everybody.
04:10I'm Vanessa Richardson, and Rockets players did not mince words after that collapse against the Pelicans.
04:16At one point, Houston leading by 25 points, but really allowing New Orleans to dominate that third quarter.
04:22Here's what Kevin Durant had to say postgame in the locker room.
04:28Third quarter, we didn't play with enough energy.
04:30Since the urgency, they got whatever they wanted.
04:34We weren't playing together.
04:35We weren't swinging the ball.
04:38We just relaxed too much, you know, and they hit us in the mouth.
04:40We just relaxed.
04:41Got too cool.
04:42Think we there already.
04:43We got to play 48 minutes.
04:45And when I asked Tima Yudoka what he wanted to see tonight that he has not seen in New Orleans and did not see in Denver when they were here on Monday, he said he wants the team to defend Jokic and Murray at a much higher level.
04:57He wants the team to take care of the ball and get to our spacing.
05:00All right, coming up, round two here in Denver for the week.
05:03Two losses to Denver this year by a combined six points for the Rockets, and they are hoping for a different result tonight.
05:09It's all coming your way on Space City Home Network.
05:15All right, welcome back to Denver, everybody.
05:18With Ryan Hollins, Evanessa Richardson, I am Craig Ackerman.
05:21The Nuggets, two wins over the Rockets this season, have come by a combined six points, including that controversial loss to start this road trip.
05:27KD and company will look to erase that and this two-game losing streak here today.
05:32So let's get to the starting lines for this late afternoon tip between Houston and Denver for the Rockets.
05:38Same five, Kogi, Thompson, Shingun, Smith, and Durant.
05:42Peyton Watson got hurt against the Rockets here on Monday, so Tim Hardaway Jr., second start of the season, stepping in for him.
05:48He'll join Murray, Jokic, Jones, and Cam Johnson.
05:53And again, second meeting this week between these two teams, third meeting this season between Houston and Denver.
05:58And Ryan, it's now time to the keys of the game presented by Toyota.
06:01First off, ball pressure.
06:02That is Houston Rockets basketball and hopefully looking to get out and force turnovers and make some of those passes from Jokic.
06:08Jokic extremely tough.
06:10Big boards.
06:11That's what the Rockets are at their best, attacking the boards, creating second and third chance opportunities.
06:16And B-T-E, Craig, destroyed the doubles.
06:19When Durant and Shingun are doubled, the rest of the Rockets have to step up and make big plays.
06:24Denver's won six in a row overall.
06:26The Rockets have dropped four straights on the road.
06:29Here's Johnson, open look, rims the three short.
06:34Denver off to their best start in franchise history at 20 and 6.
06:37D-F! D-F!
06:41Again, two narrow wins against the Rockets this season.
06:44Durant coming off that stick, back to Shingun.
06:47Got off to a hot start on Monday and gets the scoring started for the Rockets here on a Saturday.
06:53I can't tell you how hard it is to see what Al P. just did because naturally he throws that lob line.
06:59He made a true read and with your back turned, man, that is great basketball.
07:03Rockets come away with a turnover.
07:05Denver does not turn the ball over much.
07:07They got to make them pay when they do.
07:08Томпсон, смертный, и он был отталем на кач.
07:13Да, это тяжелый, и ты уже должен был готовить на что-то,
07:16но Минт-Томпсон, с тех же силой,
07:20что такое, что хрустонцы грузов, которые приводятся на,
07:24это какие-то те планы, после того, как они скрыли.
07:27Томпсон, который входит в Шонс,
07:29и оценивает на меня, на двери.
07:32И на него очень сильное, Крайк.
07:33Когда мы говорим о полнеживо,
07:35и что-то в стеянное, что такое, что-то там,
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25:28Супер на шотклок, Дурант finds somebody,
25:30that's Thompson,
25:31and that's who Denver wants, taking threes.
25:38Right now, for Houston,
25:40if the offensive isn't there,
25:42be physical, hit the boards.
25:44Pickett misses, gets his own rebound,
25:46comes back out to Valanchunas,
25:48hesitates, now takes it from 20.
25:50And with this lineup, no Murray, no Jokic,
25:52Houston's gotta take advantage.
25:54Valanchunas, when he shoots the ball,
25:58looks like it's a hammer toss.
26:02Durant at the foul line, ground,
26:04laying him very physically,
26:06goes up a tough shot missed again,
26:08Rockets just, they're not moving off the ball.
26:10Yeah, when Durant's there,
26:12you gotta move to clear the nail,
26:14so that he can go one-on-one,
26:16and if the nail's not there, he's gotta make that pass,
26:18so, but again, as you said, Craig,
26:20the movement has to be there.
26:22There he's stagnant, Valanchunas working on Adams.
26:28And again, Valanchunas was the, the offense man,
26:30he was red hot in that last matchup,
26:32let's see how Houston guards him.
26:34Shepard snaking that pick,
26:36now back out, defended by Pickett,
26:38cross-court passing Durant in rhythm now,
26:40and he makes the three.
26:41There you go, we just talked about ball movement,
26:43and then those looks are gonna get easier,
26:45that's how you get a physical team off you.
26:47Both makes for KD, have been threes,
26:49he's got nine, Shepard has nine.
26:51Here's Pickett, turned back,
26:53Cam Johnson, to Valanchunas.
26:56This is the deepest Denver team
27:01that Jokic has ever been a part of,
27:03which is kinda scary.
27:05Well, Valanchunas is a starter in the NBA right now,
27:08and you get a certified, a backup for him.
27:11Durant again, Durant again!
27:14That, that's what a megastar looks like.
27:17You know, you play him airtight,
27:19and the looks that he gets, they go down.
27:22You talk about his efficiency.
27:24Third three for him, a dozen points.
27:27Here's Cameron Johnson rolling,
27:29dishes to Valanchunas into the body of Adam,
27:31and flips it up over the top.
27:33Yeah, veteran finish there for Valanchunas.
27:35Steven was able to get back in front,
27:37but just kinda squares up, and that's textbook footwork.
27:40And again, he's a starter on any other team
27:43with his skill set.
27:46Contemplated not continuing to Valanchunas in the NBA,
27:49but here he is, gonna honor the end of his contract.
27:52Great addition to this Denver team.
27:54Durant just wants it all here.
27:56Here.
27:57I mean, this has...
28:03I'm trying to think of the word, Ryan.
28:06Intuit that we've seen him in a game this early this season.
28:11Would, would, would you agree?
28:12I don't know if I described it accurately or not.
28:14Well, he was frustrated in the Pelicans game.
28:16I love his comments with Vanessa Postgame.
28:18He is as professional as can be,
28:20but he understands the urgency that this ball club needs,
28:22and it starts with him stepping up, hitting the big three,
28:25attacking and understanding there's a physical defense,
28:28so you gotta be even more physical in offense to get the foul.
28:31Johnson picked up the foul.
28:32Reed Shepard rims it down.
28:34Another make for him.
28:35His fourth, his first non-three.
28:36He's got 11.
28:37Look, man.
28:38Reed's got some hops.
28:39He's got a quick release, man.
28:40And again, this group needs that from him.
28:42Yep.
28:43He's got a very unique skill set.
28:45And the ability as a movement shooter...
28:47Yes.
28:48...to shake himself free of this Denver defense.
28:50Head layup no good.
28:51Oh, rebound nearly tipped in,
28:52and Valanchunas right place.
28:54Great time.
28:55You'd like to clean up, man.
28:56You do not want Valanchunas,
28:57who is the guy who can hurt you with the group,
28:59to be scoring the way he is.
29:01And he's had another good performance against the Rockets
29:03here in this first half.
29:04Half a dozen points.
29:05And keep in mind, these are minutes,
29:07and it didn't take long.
29:08Reed Shepard off the screen.
29:09That's off.
29:10Minutes without Jokic on the floor,
29:12and again, they'll play he and Jokic together.
29:15Oh, that would look like a bit of a discontinued dribble there for Brown.
29:20That's on call.
29:21Stolen by Shepard.
29:22Picked the pocket.
29:23Here's Durant.
29:24Got fouled by Pickett.
29:25Turn in defense and offense.
29:28He'd like for Reed to have probably held that a little longer
29:30to accept the two-on-one,
29:32but nonetheless, you get a look for Kevin one-on-one in transition
29:37and you want to get him going.
29:38Yeah, you got more free throws coming up.
29:40Kevin Durant with 7-37 to play and a half.
29:43Now, take advantage of this afternoon's Rocket Shop online item
29:46of the game to get a Houston Rockets blanket for only $25.
29:50Shop now at Rocketshop.com.
29:53Recently, that blanket will come in handy.
29:55I think it's warmed up until like 80 degrees today,
29:57so maybe not so much now, but eventually it will cool off again
30:00and will come in handy, so it'll be a nice addition.
30:03See Coach Adoku talking through things with Reed Shepard.
30:07Looking to see what he wants, but again,
30:10any time you can get a clean look for Kevin Durant, you take advantage.
30:14Jokic coming in.
30:18So they're going to roll with their version of a double big,
30:20and it's a big double big as well with Jokic and Valanciutas.
30:24When you think of great players,
30:26when you watch Kevin up compete against them,
30:28he's got fire, man.
30:29It's that competitive drive.
30:31Those guys hate to lose ball games.
30:33Maybe that's the best way to describe what I was trying to describe.
30:36That's where you're going.
30:37Driven, yes, thank you.
30:38What did you say?
30:39Demonstrative?
30:40No, I just said into it.
30:42And I knew that just...
30:43Intuit?
30:44Yeah, that's bad.
30:45Excuse me.
30:46Chris, our wonderful producer.
30:47That's bad.
30:48But driven and determined.
30:49Driven and determined here in this game.
30:51And Jabari doesn't like to call.
30:53He's got to be mindful.
30:54Yeah, you can't do that.
30:55With air swings.
30:56Yeah, you can't do that in the direction of an official.
30:58But I love that from the officials.
31:00And I believe this.
31:01With the officials and the player, I guess, connection,
31:07allow a player to have an emotional reaction and then get back to it.
31:10You know, we're all human there.
31:12Rockets have lost four straight to Denver going back to last season.
31:15Look at Jabari taking this match up here with Valanciunas.
31:19Got their own double pick going for Denver.
31:23Now gets switched up on Hardaway.
31:24Now you've got Okoge on Jokic.
31:26Jokic going to try to back him into the pink camp.
31:29And he thought, he thought that Brown was going to stay in the corner,
31:34which, frankly, he probably should have.
31:36And that pass, he ended up cutting down the baseline.
31:38That pass went out of bounds.
31:39Remember, big key ball pressure.
31:40Okoge bodied Jokic up as well as you can do.
31:44Especially for a guy who's giving up a lot of height and a lot of weight.
31:48Okoge now takes the corner three and he'll make it now.
31:51He had 16 points here on Monday.
31:53A season high.
31:55A couple of threes there.
31:56He's now on the board here.
31:58The Rockets are 8 of 13, 3.
32:00They've retaken the lead, 39-37.
32:05Block to block and the block by Jabari Smith Jr.
32:09And the Rockets ultimately come away with the ball.
32:12And then a little bit, a little bit too much sizzle there by Shepard.
32:17But Jengoon picked it up safely.
32:19Jabari to Okoge wide open.
32:21Opposite corner.
32:22Same result.
32:23Back to back.
32:24And the Rockets are up by 5.
32:26And Denver will call a timeout.
32:29Gotta love what you've seen from the Rockets over the last couple of possessions.
32:34And this was a late recovery and denial of the cup by Jabari.
32:39He's been doing that more and more often this season.
32:42A little too much sizzle there by Reed.
32:44But Shengoon tracked it down.
32:46And then back to back threes for Josh Okoge.
32:49Eight straight for Houston.
32:51All right, this inside look is presented by Memorial Hermann Rockets Orthopedics.
33:01And this was on Monday.
33:02Gonna tease this at the open.
33:04Historic game.
33:05Both Alperin Shengoon and Nikola Jokic triple-double.
33:08First time in history that two opposing centers posted triple-doubles in the same game.
33:14That was an unbelievably fun, high-level basketball game on Monday.
33:21Controversial.
33:22Unfortunately, Rockets lost.
33:23But that was a big-time effort by two really good players.
33:26And there goes Reed Shepard denying Cam Johnson the dunk with those great hands,
33:31retrieving late and knocking it out of bounds.
33:33And again, that's a big key, man.
33:35When you're playing Denver and Jokic and Murray,
33:37you're gonna be in some very poor positions and have to make plays.
33:41So two big blocks from Houston.
33:42We've seen it so far in the game.
33:44Rockets calling another timeout here.
33:51And gonna have a conversation.
33:53So another quick timeout with 6.20 to play in the first half.
34:01Rockets trying to beat Denver for the first time this season.
34:04And as we head to break now, let's check in with Kevin and Calvin,
34:07who are hanging out in the Rooms to Go Lounge.
34:09We just barely did get set up.
34:19Welcome into the Rooms to Go Lounge.
34:21He's Calvin Murphy.
34:22I'm Calvin Eschenfelder.
34:24A good first half so far is pretty much what we've seen the last two times these two teams got together.
34:28Very close.
34:29You got to stop the turnovers.
34:31With the turnovers, that can get them back in the game and that you don't want to start playing behind against this team.
34:37Yeah, this should be a good one the rest of the way out.
34:39We'll be back with you at halftime to talk all about it.
34:41We'll see you then.
34:42Sequence.
34:43But this is a Coach's Challenge presented by Sprite.
34:45A Rockets Coach's Challenge.
34:47To determine the out-of-bounds decision was incorrect and has been overturned to Houston's ball.
34:52This is a successful challenge.
34:54However, it is the first timeout of the period for Houston.
34:57They'll be charging the timeout and they do have an additional challenge.
35:00Please reset the shot clock to 24.
35:02That was Mark Davis, the crew chief.
35:04And Imei and his staff did it again.
35:06They overturned another call.
35:07I'm blown away.
35:08I think we all missed that.
35:10And Houston right in front of the bench says, you know what?
35:13That's our basketball.
35:14That's a poor call.
35:15So Coach Udolka and staff doing an unbelievable job.
35:19As good as any team in the league this year on that.
35:22So they get the ball back.
35:27Back to Shepard.
35:28Two-man game with Shigun.
35:31Remember, Jokic has two.
35:33Escaped a four on Shiver.
35:35Shigun still going at it.
35:36Rolls through the paint.
35:37Swings it across to the other side of the floor.
35:39And the Rockets make another three.
35:41And it's Josh Akogi again.
35:44Three in a row for him.
35:46Eleven straight points now for Houston.
35:48They've made five triples in this quarter.
35:51That's huge.
35:52And I'm sure it was a point of emphasis for the rest of the guys.
35:54Not named Kevin Durant, Reed Shepard, or Alfred Shigun in that late slot.
36:00That got broken up.
36:02And then there was a massive humanity.
36:04Cameron Johnson there.
36:06Got sandwiched.
36:07For guys who just play basketball, Craig, can be aggressive.
36:09One thing you see tonight is Houston's really pressuring the basketball.
36:13And that puts pressure on you to do what?
36:15You got to make a second play after you deny the first.
36:18Especially when you're playing against Denver.
36:20Kind of looked like that hit at the goal line in that Miami A&M game.
36:23Oh.
36:24Tough.
36:25Tough.
36:26Tough afternoon in Aggieland.
36:28Jokic.
36:29Fouled.
36:32He is so tough.
36:33He makes whatever play you give him.
36:37He's watching your feet.
36:38He's watching your defense.
36:39And again, Jokic, one of the best ever.
36:42First free throws of the game for Denver.
36:45And they shoot it pretty well.
36:4882% third best in the league.
36:53Makes that.
36:54And now a word from Standard Insurance.
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37:03Don't you like all seven today?
37:07The end of the Rockets' run.
37:08He made them both.
37:12Josh Okogie, though, like he did in the third quarter at 11 points on Monday.
37:16With nine on three straight threes here in the second.
37:19I thought in the Pelicans game, Josh overly cut instead of trusting his three.
37:22And he's trusting his three in this ballgame.
37:24He's a great shooter.
37:25And it's good to see it pay off.
37:27A couple of Rockets converge on that miss.
37:29Jabari goes in with Matt Thompson.
37:30There you go.
37:31Those are the cuts.
37:33The aggression on the boards.
37:35You've got to be the more physical ball club.
37:37That's Houston basketball.
37:38Again, Denver a really good defensive rebounding team for the Rockets.
37:41One of the best ever offensive-wise.
37:43It's stolen by Shepard.
37:45And then finds a man Thompson for some help in the score.
37:48All right.
37:49How about Reed Shepard's first half?
37:50He's been awesome.
37:52Yeah, make him plays defensively.
37:54You know his offense is there once he's rolling.
37:56But that's what's going to keep him on the floor.
37:58This club needs him.
37:59He's got two steals.
38:00A block.
38:01Eleven points.
38:02Three made threes.
38:03And four of seven shooting overall.
38:05And a partridge in a pear tree.
38:07That's how Goodrich Shepard's been in this first half.
38:09Blocked by Shengun.
38:10Picked up by Shengun.
38:12Houston locking in defensively.
38:14Yep.
38:15Jabari will pull.
38:16And miss.
38:17Rebound to Murray.
38:18Houston's biggest lead of the game here at 10.
38:23Murray into the paint.
38:24Straight up and down against Shengun.
38:25That was good defense.
38:27But ultimately a foul is going to be called on him.
38:30Looked like he went straight up and down with the call.
38:33And Murray, who is such a good free throw shooter,
38:36would go to the free throw line here.
38:38Reed Shepard out in transition.
38:40Didn't force it in the mid Thompson with the trail.
38:43But that's what Houston has to do.
38:44Make plays defensively.
38:46Be a defensive playmaker.
38:47That's how you change the tempo here for this ball club.
38:50And that's where Houston had a lot of their success last season.
38:5489% on the season makes the first.
38:57Holiday going to pick up Reed Shepard.
38:59Kevin Durant also coming in here.
39:01So.
39:02What's tough Craig.
39:03Thompson going to take his seat.
39:04Kevin Durant makes this offense monumentally better.
39:08And sometimes you can forget what makes you great.
39:11And it's that defense.
39:12And that's Houston's calling card.
39:14So again, being reminded of being better on that side.
39:17You can see it already.
39:18I brought this up in the open.
39:19As you saw there.
39:20Murray was 14 of 15 at the line on Monday.
39:23Denver was 27 of 33.
39:25New Orleans went 24 of 28 at the free throw line a couple of nights ago.
39:29And won the game as they rally back from that 25 point deficit.
39:32The Rockets normally keep teams off the line.
39:34They have not done so the last couple of games.
39:36And both New Orleans and Denver have shot extremely well.
39:39Hey!
39:40Hurt the Rockets as Shigun rumbles to the rim.
39:43Late help there from Hardaway Jr.
39:46And again, Shigun with an unbelievable recognition and throw it down.
39:50Look at Jokic.
39:51He may be a little more aggressive here.
39:53Got to stay up.
39:55He'll shoot the three.
39:56In and out.
39:57You can see when he kind of gets a feel that he needs to shoot the ball.
40:01And, you know, early in his career, the argument was that he was maybe a little too passive with his ability to score.
40:07And not anymore.
40:08Yeah.
40:09I think everybody found out.
40:10But he's like, I got to do it.
40:11Well, he typically does it.
40:12He's done it twice in the second half of both games against the Rockets this season.
40:16Good move by Shigun but couldn't pay it off.
40:20But you like the attack knowing he has two fouls.
40:23Let's see if you can draw a third somehow.
40:25Shigun's got one.
40:27Jokic is trying to get his second.
40:28Backs him down.
40:29Durant knocks it away.
40:30Good help defense by Kevin Durant.
40:32How about the IQ?
40:33Durant caught him low before he could get in the air.
40:35Holiday.
40:36Jones turns him back.
40:38Comes back on high on the reset to Shigun.
40:40And now what?
40:41We have a foul on Denver.
40:45It's going to be Tim Hardaway Jr.
40:49There you go.
40:50You see that slammed off.
40:51And, again, the rotation does not come sooner.
40:54Forgive me, Hardaway, for the Academy of Sports and Outdoor Super Bowl replay.
40:57That was Cam Johnson.
40:59That was in that poster for Alper and Shigun.
41:01He'll come out.
41:02Adams in.
41:03Jabari also going out.
41:04Jokic coming.
41:06Jokic coming.
41:07Jokic just because the guy just got fouled by Hardaway.
41:10So you got Thompson, Adams, Jokic, Holiday, and KD.
41:17Now you got Jones.
41:18He's taking these shadow minutes with Kevin Durant.
41:20Yep.
41:21Durant will go one-on-one with the shot clock winding down.
41:24Rises up.
41:25Top angle shot.
41:26And makes it.
41:27Played through the contact to Jones, man.
41:30And he's a strong defender.
41:32Those guys are frustrating when you're a thinner player.
41:35See what's the ranch done in the corner and the game.
41:37Rockets looking for more.
41:38Up by a dozen.
41:39Their biggest lead.
41:41Murray off that Jokic pick.
41:52Back to him.
41:53He's open.
41:54Doesn't take it.
41:55Now comes into the paint.
41:56And then runs over.
41:57Josh Akogi.
41:58And a whistle.
41:59And a foul on Jokic.
42:01That's his third as Akogi took that Mack truck right in the chops.
42:08And drew the third on Jokic.
42:11And again, Houston making second and third chance plays there.
42:16Josh rotating over.
42:17Running him off the line.
42:18Great job.
42:19He's a good shooter.
42:20Two feet outside the restricted.
42:22Big time basketball there for Josh Akogi.
42:24Not just the threes he's been hitting.
42:26And got into that legal guarding position.
42:28Threw.
42:29Oh my gosh.
42:30Oh, they're going to call a foul on Aaron Holliday style.
42:33It was Steven Adams who went tumbling down.
42:37Registered about a 6.4 on the Richter scale when he hit the floor.
42:41But it's going to be Holliday called for a shove that ultimately led to some kind of domino effect where Steven Adams went flying.
42:47Well, if Jokic was involved, they probably definitely didn't want to give him his fourth.
42:51He was shielded by exactly what happened there.
42:57But Adams went tumbling and Jokic got to the rim easily.
43:00So right now, you've got to show and recover because you're not switching with Steven trying to keep him on Jokic.
43:05So hard show, be early, then recover.
43:07Don't leave him one-on-one.
43:09Excuse me, without help.
43:11Durant again.
43:12Crossover.
43:13Drive.
43:14Into Adams.
43:15Missed it.
43:16Tried to get his own miss and the rebound to Denver.
43:20Again, Adams has not been effective for the second straight game against Denver.
43:25He absolutely was in that game in Houston.
43:27Cross-court pass Murray to Hardaway.
43:29Tough catch.
43:30Missed the shot.
43:31Wasn't really in great rhythm there.
43:32Thompson with ahead of Steve.
43:34Thompson comes into the paint.
43:35Plays it back out and threw it away.
43:38And then Jones resets it out high.
43:42Eight turnovers now for the Rockets.
43:44Seven for the Nuggets.
43:46Jokic.
43:47To Jones.
43:48To corner three.
43:49Knuckling shot.
43:50No good.
43:51Durant kind of played mind games there with Jones.
43:54Left and wide open.
43:55Didn't even contest.
43:57Two on Durant.
44:01Threes up Holiday.
44:03Now Kogan.
44:04He's been hot.
44:05Missed that one.
44:06Thompson.
44:07Hand on it.
44:08Rebound Denver.
44:09Quickly ahead to Hardaway.
44:11And then Durant knocked it away from him.
44:13As it trickled out of bounds with the opposite corner.
44:15Denver ball.
44:16About the physical play here of Houston.
44:20He may get to a bit of a quicker rotation so the guys can stay fresh.
44:24But you can see the hustle.
44:26The guys are huffing and puffing because they're working.
44:28And again Craig, when you play up here this altitude is a thing also.
44:31Cangun in for Adams.
44:3357.7 to play in the half.
44:3517 on this Denver possession.
44:38In to Murray.
44:40Murray's just two for six.
44:43Eight points in this half.
44:44For the rest of the Rockets, they've got to load over to this two-man action.
44:47Jokic spinning into the paint, off the window, beats the shot clock buzzer.
44:5912 for him.
45:00He's phenomenal.
45:01He is phenomenal.
45:02My goodness.
45:03Shingun looking to answer.
45:05Attacks him.
45:06And another turnover.
45:08Offensive foul.
45:10And a charge on Alfred Shingun.
45:13And the Rockets are going to challenge this.
45:15I mean the entire coaching staff.
45:18The entire coaching staff.
45:20As soon as they saw the review on their monitor.
45:24They all jumped up in Houston.
45:26Signaling to Emei to ultimately signal for a timeout.
45:29And a challenge on this charge will give you the decision when we come back.
45:35The Rockets are challenging for the second time in this half.
45:38They won their first.
45:39So they get this bonus.
45:40They're as good as any team in the league in these scenarios.
45:42And they called the offensive foul on Alfred Shingun.
45:45But the Rockets are hoping it will be the fourth on Nikola Jokic.
45:49This is a monumental play here.
45:52I just talked about them not wanting Jokic to get his fourth foul.
45:56And they call this a player control.
46:01His feet are moving.
46:02He never gets set.
46:04If anything, maybe you make it a no call.
46:06But they blow this whistle.
46:07Look, his feet are moving.
46:08He's out of position.
46:09But it's also about that hand.
46:10Upon review, it's been determined that Jokic established a legal guarding position prior
46:14to this contact.
46:16And this offensive foul was correctly judged.
46:20And it's also about legal guarding position.
46:22Used to be charged with a timeout and they have no additional challenges.
46:25And so they ultimately deemed that he was in a legal guarding position.
46:29That the hand on the head is Shingun.
46:32I'm assuming they thought was marginal contact, even though there was not an explanation.
46:36And the Rockets do not win the challenge.
46:39And Janime Adilka is not happy about it.
46:41And so the foul will stand an offensive foul on Alfred Shingun and not the fourth on Nikola Jokic.
46:48So an important decision and delineation there.
46:51You see some frustration for Alfred Shingun, 33.8 to play in half.
46:55Well, intriguing to see.
46:56You know, when Jamal Murray goes rumbling downhill with his offhand,
46:59where they're going to make that a no call or call those offensive fouls.
47:03So again, you got to play through it.
47:07And that's just what it's going to be here tonight.
47:10So two on Shingun, three on Jokic.
47:13Murray, back to Jokic, open at the foul line.
47:16Misses.
47:17And rebound to Okoge.
47:19Yeah, fortunate there.
47:20You had a really good look for Nikola Jokic.
47:22But Houston doing a good job again.
47:24Scrambling late with the hustle.
47:26All right.
47:27Shot clock is off.
47:28Final second to the first half.
47:29Rockets up eight.
47:30Looking to lead by Moore going to the locker of two on Durant.
47:32To Thompson.
47:33Fakes the pass.
47:34Sidestep.
47:35Shoots.
47:36Got it off in time, but missed.
47:38And so the Rockets, who went on that great run in the second,
47:41built themselves a 12-point lead.
47:42We'll lead by eight here at halftime.
47:45And coming up on the Lexus Halftime Report with Kevin and Calvin,
47:48we'll talk about Reed Shepard's first half of the Rockets.
47:51Three-point shooting as well.
47:53Josh Okoge got hot in that second quarter.
47:55And right now, Vanessa standing by with Ben Sullivan.
47:57Thanks, Craig.
47:58Coach, Reed Shepard was extremely active.
48:00What did you like the most about his first half?
48:02You know, Reed has great hands, great anticipation.
48:04He's able to get a lot of deflections, steals, turnovers for us.
48:07It's big time whenever he's able to bring that.
48:08We all know that Jokic and Murray can get going.
48:10What's the defensive approach in the second half?
48:12Man, we've tried a lot of different stuff, sending them certain directions,
48:15trapping certain times, switching up coverages.
48:17They're a tough matchup, and hopefully we keep switching it up on them.
48:21They're not able to adjust enough.
48:22Thanks, Coach.
48:23All right, no problem.
48:24Fans, make sure you stay tuned for Rockets Halftime with Kevin Eschenfelder
48:27and the Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy.
48:29It's all coming your way on the Space City Home Network.
48:31Brought to you by Rooms To Go.
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48:49That's Rooms To Go.
48:51Whataburger, your favorite burger whenever you want it.
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48:57And by Reliant, official energy provider of the Houston Rockets.
49:04Back-to-back losses for the Rockets looking to end that string here today in Denver.
49:08They lead the Nuggets by 8 at halftime, 53 to 45.
49:12Welcome back to the Mile High City.
49:14Everybody, Craig Ackerman and Ryan Hollins with you.
49:16Look, we can get to KD and or Shepard and Okoge here in a moment.
49:19But Imei Adokas said the Rockets' defensive effort in the second half
49:22in overtime in New Orleans was embarrassing.
49:24The Rockets deed up in this first half.
49:26Yeah, they were really good.
49:27And we talked about ball pressure and the physicality.
49:29It's been there.
49:30And when you pressure the Nuggets, you got to make two and three extra efforts.
49:34So it hasn't been perfect.
49:35It's not going to be perfect against a prolific scoring team.
49:38But the effort's been there and it's paid off, Craig.
49:40And here's a look at our power players presented by Xfinity.
49:43Your first half leaders.
49:44Good stuff from Kevin Durant and Reed Shepard.
49:46Denver had 16 points.
49:47They scored with 16 points in the second quarter.
49:50Their lowest scoring quarter the entire season.
49:52And the 45 that Denver had in the first half.
49:55Their lowest scoring first half all year.
49:57And the second half starts off with a wing three for Jabari Smith Jr.
50:01The Rockets go back up by double figures.
50:03Make them pay, Craig.
50:04Watch how far the wings from the Nuggets get off and sag to help on Durant.
50:08Those threes are there all game long.
50:10Two lowest scoring first halves of the season for the NBA's best offense.
50:14The Denver Nuggets have come against the Rockets.
50:16Driving kick.
50:17And airmailed that shot did Hardaway.
50:20I don't think I've ever seen him miss that match.
50:23Not against the Rockets.
50:25Durant jumps into Thompson.
50:28Wants it back.
50:29You see Murray always tries to contest Durant behind his head.
50:33Who Shingun misses.
50:35Yeah, bounce there for Ed Thompson.
50:38Murray does not take the screen.
50:43Now leads Jokic into that.
50:45And Ahmed Thompson there with the help and the block.
50:48Really great awareness by Ahmed Thompson.
50:51I thought that was for sure a dump for Jokic.
50:55Look at it.
50:56And it comes from the weak side.
50:57Look at the hang time and blocks it at the last second.
51:03Really good help for Ahmed Thompson.
51:07Rockets six blocks in the game.
51:09Jokic pirouetting.
51:10Jokic pirouetting.
51:12And...
51:13Oh, this could follow as well.
51:15That usually never happens.
51:18Durant picks up the dribble.
51:23Draws two.
51:24Jabari lines it up.
51:25Ooh, tough luck.
51:26Great basketball there though.
51:28You attack Jokic and you put Denver in a box.
51:32And Jokic, that's an open look for a good shooter.
51:34Jokic gets the seal off.
51:36Back across to Murray.
51:37His three.
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