Rockets' defense key in romp over Nuggets

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

Posted: March 29, 2019 -- 8:43 a.m. CDT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets dominated the Denver Nuggets Thursday night with defense in a 112-85 romp. Denver's 85 points is the fewest points Houston has allowed this season.

After a sluggish start which resulted in a 25-22 deficit at the end of the first quarter, the Rockets limited the Nuggets to 60 points the rest of the ball game on 35% (21 for 60) shooting.

"We played great defense tonight," Mike D'Antoni, Rockets Head Coach said after the game. "We do that, (then) I don't care who's out there. It just happened to be Denver (Nuggets). This is by far our best effort defensively and it's been coming on."

Houston guard Austin Rivers was a catalyst in the win. In the first five minutes of the second quarter, Rivers heated up with 10 points on perfect 4 for 4 shooting to erase the 25-22 deficit and put Houston ahead 39-32 with 6:58 remaining until halftime. Houston extended the run with three-point baskets from PJ Tucker and James Harden to boost the lead to 45-32 with 5:44 left in the second quarter.

After trailing 23-16, Houston used a 29-9 run to lead by 13 (45-32). Denver pulled within 10 points (50-40); but, Houston finished the half with a 12-4 spurt to lead 62-44 at halftime.

---

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

---

The Rockets outscored the Nuggets 40 to 19 in the second quarter.

"Obviously, they went to their bench and we went to our bench," Michael Malone, Denver Head Coach commented. "And, their bench dominated that stretch 40-19 in the second quarter. That's where the game was lost. First quarter, we came out and played a great first quarter, defended at a high level, and second half – our defense was really good as well. I think in the second half, they only shot 38 (percent) from the field and 26 percent from the 3-point line. You let a team score 40 points in the quarter – Austin Rivers, I thought was the MVP of the game. He’s the one that allowed them to kind of break the game open. He had 13 first half points and they hit five threes in the second quarter, and we couldn't make a shot. Obviously, this is a make or miss league and in the second quarter they made them at a high clip and we did not."

Harden scored 16 of Houston's 25 points in the third quarter and Houston led 87-65 after three quarters.

Houston led Denver by as much as 30 (112-82) in the fourth period.

With the win tonight, the Rockets improve to 48-28 this season take the season series against the Nuggets 3-1 and have won 10 of the past 11 meetings. Denver is 50-24 this season. Houston has won 15 of its past 18 games and hasn't lost consecutive games since February 13 and February 21.

Rivers finished the game with 15 points on 6 for 10 shooting. He cited Houston's defense as key to the win.

"I got good looks. I thought it started with our defensive pressure," Rivers said. "I thought we were really sound defensively tonight. I think we made it as difficult as possible, and then they're a really good offensive team. I thought tonight was one of our best defensive efforts; and, I think it just translated to us. We played with this amazing tempo tonight, amazing tempo. So, we were able to get good looks and knock them down."

James Harden had 32 of his game-high 38 points through three quarters and only played four minutes in the fourth. He is averaging 27.8 points per game through three quarters of play this season. Paul George is second in the NBA in scoring this season and is averaging 28.2 points per game overall (Harden: 36.2). Harden hit 5 3-pointers tonight and moved past Jason Kidd for sole possession of the ninth-most in NBA history with 1,993. Harden surpassed 2,600 points for the season tonight, joining Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as the only players to have accomplished that feat since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976-77.

"It was great," Harden said of Houston's defense. "We know how good of an offensive team they are. We wanted to bounce back and just put the pressure on them defensively, create some opportunities with our defense and throughout the course of the game for a four-quarter game, we did that."

---

Byron L. Riley, CPA; 832-303-3995; Do you need tax help? IRS Tax help available- Free Consult

---

Clint Capela had 17 points and 15 rebounds, marking his second straight double-double and his 40th overall this season.

Eric Gordon had 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting tonight, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, after going scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting at Milwaukee on March 26.

NOTES:

The Rockets Women’s Organization and Reliant partnered for the third straight year to host a book drive benefiting the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. There were 18,833 books collected, which will be distributed to local charities Friday at Toyota Center.

NEXT:

The Rockets' next game is Sunday, March 30, versus the Sacramento Kings, at 5 p.m.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.