While stars clashed, a young guard ignited a comeback. The Rockets battled fiercely but ultimately fell in a thrilling, back-and-forth contest.
Everyone came in talking about Şengün vs. Jokic- and by the end of the night, the highlight reel is going to be nothing but Reed Sheppard lighting the entire building on fire. Houston and Denver entered Emirates Cup Game 3 as top-10 offenses and top-10 defenses, and it showed instantly. It was just nonstop chaos, nonstop swings, and somehow still a three-point game at the end.
Houston opened with Udoka’s go-big lineup, but the Rockets came out cold, shooting 26-percent in the first quarter while Denver pulled down offensive boards and controlled the pace. Jokic made a handful of absurd, no-look passes, and the Nuggets built a 25-12 lead by just being the more composed team from the jump.
Enter Reed Sheppard- the young guard dropped 20 points by halftime, including a stretch in the second quarter where he got to his spots and buried four from deep. The entire energy of the game shifted because of him.
The play of the night? Şengün steals it, hits the deck and throws a backwards over-the-head dime from the floor to Sheppard for a dunk. Houston stormed back on a 12-0 run and took the lead into the break, 49-46.
Denver opened the third perfect from the field, going 9-for-9, while Jokic put up 18 at nearly 86-percent from the field and went 4-for-4 from deep. Şengün answered with a dunk. Thompson stole it and dunked. Smith finally woke up from three. The teams traded leads 12 different times. It was neck-and-neck and hands-down the most fun NBA game to watch on Friday night.
By the fourth, the game turned into a full-on heavyweight fight. Smith hit back-to-back threes. Thompson attacked the rim over and over. Şengün and Jokic both picked up their fifth fouls. Jokic stayed in, while Şengün took a brief breather. Every possession felt like a crisis.
Even when Denver pulled ahead, Houston came right back. Okogie hit big shots. Smith buried five threes throughout the night- including one with 5.5 seconds left that cut it to 110-109 and gave Houston a real chance.
Then, Jokic got to the line and made both free throws. Şengün missed the last-second tying three. And after one of the most insane, momentum-swinging games Houston has played this season, the Rockets fell just short, 112-109.
Reed Sheppard walked off with 27 and the entire arena’s respect. Şengün held his own in a war. Houston went toe-to-toe with one of the best in the West and didn't back down for a second.
Not the ending they wanted- but absolutely not a game to hang their heads about.