Rockets Beat Nuggets 110-100 as Murray Scores 38
Jamal Murray scored 38 points in a losing effort as Denver fell to Houston for its fourth loss in nine games this season.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Basketball
The Denver Nuggets lost to the Houston Rockets 110-100 on the road on Monday, November 9, 2026. Jamal Murray scored 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and combined with Nikola Jokic for 63 of Denver's 100 points.
Why it matters
The loss dropped Denver to 5-4 to start the 2026-27 season, its fourth defeat in nine games. Denver's supporting cast did not produce enough to keep pace with Houston's firepower.
Murray's 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting exceed his season average of 25.8 points, while his season shooting splits stand at 49/51/85. Luka Doncic is averaging 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists through eight games this season.
The players
Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray is a Denver Nuggets guard known for his scoring and playmaking, and he led the team in scoring in this loss.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is a Denver Nuggets center and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who anchors the team's offense alongside Murray.
The details
Murray scored 15 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter as Houston pulled away late. The Nuggets' supporting cast was not productive enough to keep up with the Rockets' scoring.
Timeline
Monday, November 9, 2026: Nuggets lose 110-100 to the Houston Rockets.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Nuggets face the Memphis Grizzlies.
Season Trajectory
Denver's 5-4 start leaves it in the middle of a crowded Western Conference race, with the Golden State Warriors riding an eight-game winning streak that has widened the gap at the top. The Nuggets' four losses in nine games raise questions about whether their supporting cast can keep pace with the league's top scorers, including Luka Doncic, who is averaging 39 points through eight games.
Denver's loss leaves them at 5-4 and pressures the rotation to produce more scoring beyond Murray and Jokic before Wednesday's game in Memphis. Fantasy managers rostering Murray should note his 25.8-point season average and 85 percent free-throw rate as he continues to carry a heavy offensive load.
The takeaway
Denver's early-season results show that consistent production from players beyond the top two scorers will determine whether the Nuggets can climb the Western Conference standings. Watching how the team responds against Memphis will be a useful signal of whether this loss was an outlier or a trend.
What happens next
The Nuggets face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for context on the Nuggets' early-season form.
