Rockets’ Sheppard Shines Despite Loss to Nuggets

Houston, TX – The Houston Rockets faced the Denver Nuggets on Friday but fell short in a competitive matchup. Despite the loss, the Rockets managed to stage a comeback from an early double-digit deficit, largely thanks to second-year guard Reed Sheppard.

Sheppard, a 21-year-old guard from Kentucky, excelled in the game, shooting 9-for-13 (69.2%) from the field and 5-for-8 (62.5%) from three-point range. His performance drew praise from Nuggets head coach David Adelman, who stated, “Reed Sheppard went off. We know how talented he is.”

Adelman highlighted Sheppard’s impact on the Rockets, noting how his role has changed this season. Previously, Sheppard struggled to find his way into the rotation as a rookie last year. “Just more scoring and more pick-and-roll ball-handling. A complete threat on the scouting report,” Adelman explained. “He can get hot and hit five 3s in a quarter. That’s what that kid can do.”

This season, the addition of Sheppard, along with Kevin Durant, has transformed the Rockets into a more offensive-minded team. Historically, last year’s Rockets focused heavily on defense and grinding out wins. This season, they currently rank No. 1 in the NBA, a significant improvement from last year’s No. 12 ranking.

The Rockets hold a record of 10-4, trailing the Nuggets (12-4) for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. Sheppard noted the significance of maintaining their competitive edge, saying, “It’s a tough loss, but we’ll get a lot of good things from it.”

Adventurous matchups await, as the Rockets are poised for a challenging road trip beginning with a game against the Phoenix Suns (10-6) on Monday. This game marks Durant’s return to Phoenix, the team that traded him to the Rockets. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Central and will be televised nationally on Peacock.