“Houston, we have problems,” but quit isn’t one of them
ROCKETS 125, NUGGETS 95
HOU STON» One of the most raucous reactions from the Toyota Center crowd came when a Trevor Ariza 3-point attempt rattled approximately five times around the rim and then spun out.
That was about the only thing that didn’t go right for the Rockets, who rode blistering hot shooting to a 125-95 rout of the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
“You always have to find a positive in a negative situation,” coach Michael Malone said. “Tough loss — we got embarrassed for portions of the game, but I loved the fact that we didn’t quit.”
The Nuggets fell to 10-8 finish and finish a bizarre road trip 1-2. Over the past four days, coach Michael Malone and standout center Nikola Jokic were ejected in a loss at the Los Angeles Lakers, Malone was suspended for a gritty win at the Sacramento Kings and starting power forward Paul Millsap sustained a serious wrist ligament injury that could sideline him for three months.
But Wednesday night, Denver was simply blown off the floor early by one of the NBA’s best teams. The Rockets (14-4) blew the game open early and led by as many as 48 points in the fourth quarter.
Houston shot more than 70 percent for nearly the entire first half, including an 8-of-14 mark from 3point distance, to build a lead as large as 37 points. The Nuggets trailed 75-40 at halftime after shooting 34.1 percent from the floor, including 2-of-18 from 3point distance, and committing nine turnovers that the Rockets turned into 19 points.
That all made Denver’s 12-0 run to start the third quarter meaningless. And by the quarter’s final minute, a steal and layup by Chris Paul extended Houston’s lead back to 34 points at 101-67. When the Rockets scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter, that advantage ballooned to a 114-67.
Houston’s dynamic backcourt
duo fueled the offensive onslaught. James Harden flirted with a triple-double with 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Paul added a seasonhigh 23 points and 12 assists.
The Nuggets shifted their lineup without Millsap, moving Wilson Chandler to power forward and starting Will Barton at small forward. Trey Lyles, Mason Plumlee and Juancho Hernangomez also rotated in along the frontcourt, while Kenneth Faried (who started Monday’s win at Sacramento) did not play.
The Nuggets’ night, however, nearly turned from ugly to disastrous, when Jokic fell to the floor with an apparent right ankle injury in the second quarter. After a brief trip to the locker room, Jokic returned and finished with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Barton (20 points, six rebounds, three assists) and Gary Harris (13 points on 5of-9 shooting) were also in double figures for Denver.
Over the past four days, their Nuggets temporarily lost their coach and their biggest star. Their second-best player returned to Denver early with a significant injury.
But Wednesday night, Denver simply got throttled on the road against one of the NBA’s best teams.
“It’s been an emotional trip,” Malone said. “You lose one of your best players for an extended period of time, and you’re going home after a real tough loss. But we’re going home together. We’re going home united. And we’re going home with a belief that we’re heading in the right direction.”