David Adelman said Denver’s mental execution and defensive rebounding let the Nuggets down in Monday’s 110-100 loss to the Houston Rockets.

“Mentally we weren’t good enough,” Adelman said after Denver fell to 5-4. The coach felt his team competed, but did not maintain the concentration required to finish possessions and make the right decisions.

“Offensive rebounding kicked our ass,” Adelman added. Houston grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and finished with a 51-39 advantage on the glass, creating extra chances in a physical game.

Adelman said the Nuggets’ effort to recover from a 16-point deficit made the late mistakes particularly costly. Denver tied the game at 60-60 with an 18-2 run in the third quarter, but Houston responded with an 11-2 stretch to regain control.

The coach said mistakes in positioning and rebounding were costly in the 10-point loss. He acknowledged that travel and fatigue might have contributed, but stressed that Denver had to control the things within its reach.

Adelman also urged Denver’s supporting players to remain aggressive offensively. Cameron Johnson attempted six shots, including five three-pointers, while Christian Braun finished with four points on 2-for-7 shooting.

“You’re not coming out of the game for shooting open shots,” Adelman said, insisting that players must take the opportunities created by ball movement. He said hesitation allowed Houston’s switching defense to recover and disrupt the Nuggets’ offense.

Adelman explained that he paired Nikola Jokic and Marvin Bagley III in the fourth quarter to improve Denver’s rebounding. The lineup was unfamiliar because the team had not used the combination often, but he wanted to find a way to limit Houston’s extra possessions.

Despite the defeat, Adelman expressed confidence in Jamal Murray, who scored 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting, including five three-pointers. “Jamal Murray’s been incredible,” the coach said, praising his efficiency, shot-making and consistency through the first nine games.

Adelman also said Denver’s defense had improved after its loss to Golden State, while expecting the team’s shooting to come around.

The Nuggets visit Memphis on Wednesday, while Houston hosts Golden State.