The Denver Nuggets (45-27) survived a thrilling late-game charge from the Houston Rockets (46-26) and broke their nine-game winning streak with a 116-111 victory on March 24.
Denver Nuggets Top Performers:
Jamal Murray 39 PTS | 4 REB | 7 AST | 53.3 FPS
Murray has been dealing with an ankle problem that kept him out of the lineup for two-straight games recently. While he struggled in their previous matchup, he bounced back strong today, recording his 11th 30-point performance and coming close to his third 40+ point outing of the season. The Nuggets are 10-1 in those games. With Jokic unavailable, Murray will likely need to carry an even heavier offensive load moving forward.
DeAndre Jordan 11 PTS | 15 REB | 4 AST | 37.0 FPS
Jordan stepped up in the starting lineup today with Jokic still unavailable and filled in perfectly. His showing is an encouraging sign, especially with the team opting for a smaller lineup in recent games. If he continues to maintain this role, he could be a valuable streaming option, at least while Jokic remains sidelined.
Aaron Gordon 13 PTS | 4 REB | 8 AST | 32.8 FPS
Gordon continues to manage a couple of injuries but has played in the last four games, drawing the starting center spot. He’s been dominant on offense, scoring 20+ points in his last three outings, including a near-40 point performance, while contributing good numbers in other areas. However, his recent production has slowed down, and today’s assist figures are probably an exception. Not only that but he’s also expected to miss tomorrow’s game as part of the back-to-back.
Michael Porter Jr. 17 PTS | 9 REB | 2 AST | 29.8 FPS
MPJ has recently recorded back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound games but has been less effective in his last three outings. Nevertheless, he should continue to be a valuable contributor in both scoring and rebounding and could have another breakout performance with Jokic still unavailable.
Russell Westbrook 14 PTS | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 21.9 FPS
Russ was moved to the bench today and saw his rebounding and playmaking numbers take a hit after consistently putting up solid numbers in those areas this month. But has remained an elite two-way player, posting his 11th double-digit scoring game this month while averaging 3 stocks over his last four games.
Houston Rockets Top Performers:
Alperen Sengun 17 PTS | 14 REB | 10 AST | 57.8 FPS
Sengun started the month as an offensive force, recording seven 20-point games. But he couldn’t keep his momentum going with his struggles in both scoring and free-throw. Despite this, he has been able to offset the dip in offense with his elite all-around play, recording his sixth double-double in the last eight games and his fourth triple-double of the season.
Jalen Green 30 PTS | 11-14 FT | 5 AST | 39.9 FPS
Green had a difficult time in scoring but maintained his strong output with an elite performance from the line. Outside of his last game, his scoring has steadily improved, with six strong performances, including four games close to 30 points after a stretch of scoring below 20 earlier this month. However, he’s still struggled to maintain consistency in other areas of his game.
Steven Adams 14 PTS | 12 REB | 3 BLK | 39.4 FPS
Adams has played a steady bench role in the last four games, consistently providing reliable rebounding numbers. However, he delivered a much more impactful performance today, excelling in his matchup. That said, it’s unlikely he will replicate this level of production unless he is given a starting role.
Amen Thompson 11 PTS | 6 REB | 3 BLK | 30.7 FPS
Thompson missed six straight games due to injury but made a strong comeback in his last outing, delivering solid contributions across four major categories and excelling on defense with 7 steals. While he couldn’t sustain that all-around brilliance today, he remained incredible on the defensive end with 4 stocks. Moreover, he’s operating without restrictions and is poised to maintain his current momentum.
Dilon Brooks 21 PTS | 5 3PM | 3 REB | 25.1 FPS
Brooks has become a scoring force this month, recording twelve consecutive double-digit games, including three 20+ point performances, all in good shooting percentages. However, his up-and-down play in other areas continues to limit his overall fantasy value.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Fred Vanvleet 7 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST
Fred scored 37 points and hit 9 three-pointers in his previous game but struggled badly again today, going 1-8 from three. His inconsistency in scoring has been a glaring issue this season, but it’s become more noticeable this month with four single-digit scoring games. However, with a softer schedule ahead, he has a great chance to regain his rhythm and turn things around.
