Clint Capela's 23 points and 25 rebounds helps Rockets nuke Nuggets

Posted: February 9, 2018 -- 11:41 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets made quick work of the Denver Nuggets Friday night in a 130-104 rout of the Nuggets. Clint Capela set the tone early and often.

“I was just trying to play as hard as I could, go after rebound, even if we were shooting good shots, I was just going after every (one) of them with as much energy as I could,” Capela said after the game.

With the win tonight, the Rockets lead the season series against the Nuggets 2-0 with the final game in Denver February 25.  The Rockets pick up their seventh straight win and are 14-2 over the past 16 games.

Capela scored the first two points of the game. Then, after James Harden split two free throws, Capela finished an alley-oop pass from Harden for a dunk. Next, Capela blocked a shot which led to a three-point bucket by teammate P.J. Tucker for an 8-2 Rockets' lead. In less than two minutes, Capela had 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot.

The Rockets led the Nuggets 35-23 at the end of the first quarter. Capela scored 7 points and snared 8 rebounds in 7 first quarter minutes. Harden added 9 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.

Capela repeated his numbers in the second quarter with 7 points and 8 boards to finish the first half with 14 points and 16 rebounds in 15 minutes.

Despite 1 for 8 three-point shooting in the second quarter, the Rockets outscored the Nuggets 28-23 in the period to lead 63-46 at halftime.

Capela got two dunks to start the scoring in the third quarter before Harden sank a three-point bucket. Then, Harden dished to Capela for a layup to boost the Rockets' lead to 73-52 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

The margin grew to 28 points (90-62) with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Capela scored 9 points and pulled down 7 boards in the third. Through three quarters, Capela had 23 points and 23 rebounds in 25 minutes, 39 seconds.

The Rockets led the Nuggets 97-70 after three quarters and cruised to the dominant victory.

Capela finished the game with 23 points and a career-high 25 rebounds in 29 minutes of play.  It's the first 20-point/20-rebound game of his career.  He had one taken away earlier in the season vs. Utah on 12/18 after the NBA transferred one of his rebounds to Chris Paul, leaving Capela with 19 boards.  Capela (23 years, 267 days old) is the youngest Rockets player with 23 points and 25 rebounds in a single game since Hakeem Olajuwon (22 years and 24 days old) had 30 points and 25 boards at New York February 14, 1985.  Capela has scored 20 plus points nine times this season (Rockets 9-0 mark) after doing so seven times prior in his career.  He has grabbed 15 plus rebounds nine times this season after doing so once prior in his career.

“I expect that from him (Capela) almost every night,” Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni said during his post-game press conference. “I mean he can do it, he’s that good. So he was great tonight. He’ll be great tomorrow or the next night.”

Capela's teammates chimed in to describe his monster game.

“I mean when he plays like that with that much energy we are a very tough team to beat,” Eric Gordon said. “Because we spread the floor and when he is rebounding like that, the best thing about it was his defense tonight. He was guarding guards, rebounding, scoring. He was just a complete monster tonight.”

James Harden said of Capela's performance, “Excellent. His activity throughout the entire night was amazing, (on) both ends of the floor. Obviously, the stats showed it, but tonight was another level, it’s a sign of progress.”

“We feed off of that energy,” Chris Paul said. “Clint (Capela) controlling the glass both defensively and offensive, and that’s big for us.”

The Rockets have won by double-digits 26 times this season after doing so 30 times in 2016-17, which was one shy of tying for the highest single season total in franchise history.  Houston has won 12 games by 20 plus points this season.  The Rockets won 14 games by 20 plus in 2016-17, which tied for the highest single season total in team history.

James Harden had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in 27 minutes of play.  The last player to post those numbers in a single game while playing 30 or fewer minutes was Magic Johnson with 28 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes of play vs. Golden State February 8, 1989.  During the Rockets current seven-game winning streak, Harden is averaging 33.7 points on 48.3% shooting.

Luc Mbah a Moute had 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting tonight.  The Rockets improve to 11-1 when he scores in double-figures this season.  Houston is also 10-1 when he starts.

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