OFF NIGHT: Rockets Rip Nuggets And KD Lets ‘Em Hear About It
Denver Nuggets stumble as the Houston Rockets ignite from deep, exposing questions about Denver’s resilience when top stars stumble. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray struggle on an off night, while Kevin Durant drops 31 points and Reed Sheppard punishes the Nuggets’ defense, pushing the Rockets to a statement 115-101 win. Tension flares as David Adelman is ejected and old rivalries between Bruce Brown and Durant resurface—was this a preview of an intense playoff matchup?
Matt Moore breaks down the Nuggets’ shooting woes, defensive lapses, and rotation shakeups, including Zeke Nnaji’s tough minutes and the need for more from Cam Johnson. Key insights include Houston’s physical game plan, Denver’s lack of shotmaking in the paint, and why Durant’s perimeter barrage proved too much. Can Denver regroup and find answers before facing the Rockets again—and are they built to withstand adversity when their stars go cold?
00:00 Nuggets’ Loss Recap & Chat
03:24 Nuggets Defense and Game Plan
08:38 “Rockets’ 7-0 Run Analyzed”
10:44 “Gusto: Simplified Payroll & HR”
15:18 “Scouting Shepard’s Unique Skillset”
17:29 Poor Game Plan Discipline
19:59 Denver Outscores Houston, Offensive Issues
23:47 “Exploiting a Mismatch Effectively”
26:55 Denver’s Offense Key to Winning
31:42 Player Performance and Rotation Analysis
32:57 Jokic’s Impact on Game Outcomes
36:29 Rockets Favored for Division Win
Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.
Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
DoorDash
From tipoff to overtime, stay in your bag and order on DoorDash.
Get snacks, drinks, gear — whatever gets you through the season — delivered right to your door.
DoorDash. In your bag all season long.
PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA
Robinhood
You expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move.
All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.
Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
33 Comments
This was due
Denver has lost all it's primary defensive wings
The thing is the west is a blood bath where a loss feels like the end of the world
The priority is now Denver to get healthy
Release the HOUnds!!!! Go Rockets!!!! 🚀🚀🚀
I don’t like it when we lose 😆
so many injuries, i dont get how CB is still out when he was back in the game after ingury
Spurs are as good as both of these teams
Lackadaisical playing performed
by the NUGGETS 😢
No Gordon, Braun, Watson, and they are 20-7. We'll take 20-7.
Belt to a$$, see you in the playoffs
Kevin Durant. Aka the the Bus Rider. Finally beat the Nuggets KD!! Such an accomplishment. DaRon has not played with Nikola and Jamal before. They've played 10 years together. He's not a vet. He obviously does not know where to be on the court. Not like how Timmy knows exactly where to relocate. Once Daron figures this out… He will be getting minutes.
🚀🚀🚀
Just shut that dude down
Nuggets front office is arrogant and stubborn. They want a big similar to joker instead of one that covers his weakness. They refuse to get a backup pg they just gone burn Murray out. They lost this game because injuries but their flaws shouldn’t be there
Kessler Edwards needs to play. Send Tyson and Zeke to Puerto Rico
Zeke's a liability, but way too much focus on him on the podcast considering how ass most of the team was…
Bruce Brown hasn’t been playing up to snuff… Pickett has come on and needs to play more
Off night, or did the Nuggets decide to let Houston show their next counters for what will likely be a playoff series?
Suddenly, all the Nuggets are bad, and the team is doomed! Doomed I say! Except that they are not. Doomed. If they played like garbage and lost to the Thunder, I'd be worried. But, we know they can beat Houston.
Two immediate fouls on Jokic and rockets weren’t called for their first foul until 18 minutes into the game. We were always gonna lose this one. We didn’t get any kind of favorable whistle until rockets went up 20. Wish the league would give refunds when it’s already decided before the tip off.
CB sprained an ankle for Gods sake. That doesnt take 3 months to heal at 23. Hes fine, get your ass out there and play.
AG, he needs some specific stretches before each game and stronger quads. They should be employing this soon of not already. Any decent trainer would get thse guys and keep these guys healthy if they were worth a sht at their job.
Tim is fine, ge hasn't been feeling well. Thats it.
Cam is Cam, a scared player who doesn't have "big" in his current DNA.
Big moments is a mentality, its in MPJ. Cam has to learn it, get stronger and be agressive.
Stop With this MPJ is scoring blah, blah, blah… He's horrible on defensive coverages and knowing when he shouldn't shoot and pass it to jamal when he's on fire. Plus. You have MPJ….NO BIG VAL!!!!😅😅😅
Great defense and shooting by the Rockets.
Awful shooting night for Denver, along with their “hamstringed” defense. And Bruce Brown is still a dawg and plays like it till the very end of the game. We need more of that.
And on that note, I hope non-arguing Jok isn’t turning into an univested, “My efforts are futile” Jokić 😢💔 and i do think the coaching staff has to advocate MUCH better for him! The league knows the only way to suppress Jokić’s greatness is to tie his hands with an unfair whistle and dampen his passion to play hard. Say what you want, but i think Malone would’ve bitten those damn refs rather than let OKC get away with assault and battery during the last playoffs. Ime was doing too much but DA had been doing too little. The Nuggets need to do SOMETHING to let Joker and the Nuggets play some level of ethical, fair ball.
Also the fans in the stands need to be WAY louder and cheer on this team when they’re struggling, not just when they are winning! You’re not at the movies! Show our guys support when they need it the most, not just after they’ve overcome all the obstacles, especially the presumably well-off people in the lower seats. If you’re too pompous to cheer, then donate your seats to some less fortunate, passionate true fans please!
Go Nuggets! 😊
I noticed last night that almost all of the teams around the league had a 1-2 Win or Loss streak, even the W5 Spurs if you included their Cup loss. I think it’s just that time of the season for everyone where the teams are weary, especially for compensating for so many injured players. I’m proud of the Nuggs for withstanding no AG and CB to this point but adding no PWat and God forbid no Spencer to that and it’s gonna take a toll.
I’m wishing health and wellness for every team and i hope that our team just stays bonded and hungry through these trials.
That said, there really is not enough discussion and credit for Jok’s unreal reliability and durability, even above his insane stats. I suspect that a lot of his cheap fouls last night were secondary to just fatigue and just trying to stay active. We gotta take good care of the big fella and not take him for granted.💛
You dont want to give Reed and KD those shots
Is Holmes that terrible that we keep insisting on Zeke ahead of him?
I loved MPJ, but anybody lamenting his departure is off their chops. A top 5 shooter but the bright lights were always his problem. His last 4 games against OKC and the last 4 games against the Wolves are the primary reasons the Nuggets aren't 3 times defending champs. Averaged 5.5 on 33TS in those games.
After years of mocking the Rockets, you think they NEED home court. They could care less multiple Game 7 losses at home. It doesn’t matter. Just win the damn game. Lmao.
Where is Holmes?!
Bruce Brown is a bum lmao. The way he acted post game, KD should have called him a lil biaatch
The nuggets only play the rockets one more time. They win that and they have home court
And just now, the Rockets lost to Sacramento on ot. Lol.
One of the things I love about Matt is how well he puts losses in context. It's much needed.