Nuggets Fall to Rockets in Houston, 122-111

[Photo Courtesy of AP Photo/Pat Sullivan]

The Denver Nuggets came away with the loss Saturday night in Houston, as Dwight Howard finished with 25 points and 7 rebounds. He also went 17-of-24 from the free-throw line, giving the Houston Rockets the win, 122-111.

Chandler Parsons got the Houston Rockets started with an easy uncontested layup to start the game, and he was dominant early on. Parsons recorded two lay-ups plus the harm as he gave the Rockets a six-point swing, leading to an 8-0 run.

The Nuggets were playing no defense whatsoever early on as it looked like the back-to-back game took a toll on them. Houston scored 16 of their first 21 points in the paint. Chandler Parson was fouled on another attempt as he stepped back and hit a three pointer; converting the four-point play, giving Houston the lead 28-12. Denver would try to claw back in the game as Lawson and Fournier led a 7-to-2 Nuggets run, bringing the lead down to ten at the end of the first quarter.

Timofey Mozgov got the Nuggets started in the 2nd as he laid the ball in, reducing the Houston lead to eight. It was short-lived, as Donatas Motiejunas would record seven points early on, leading the Rockets on a 12-to-0 run. Houston controlled the 2nd quarter outscoring Denver 30-to-23, as they took the lead into halftime 63-46.

Ty Lawson would start the 3rd with a quick four points, as Randy Foye tallied a three pointer as Denver reduced the Houston lead to seven points, going on an 11-to-0 run. Houston seemed to kill Denver’s runs all night as they went on a 14-to-2 run led by 2nd year pro Terrance Jones. Nate Robinson at the buzzer to end the 3rd hit a floater as Denver trailed Houston by fifteen points. Denver however, would outscore Houston 29-to-27 that quarter.

Dwight Howard would kill any chance of a Denver comeback as he began the 4th quarter with an and-one, nailing the free-throw bringing the lead to eighteen. Ty Lawson sparked a somewhat attempt at coming back as he would continue to shred the defense, knocking down a jump shot. Wilson Chandler would add a three-pointer as Denver trailed by twelve.

But Dwight Howard would knock down his free-throws as Denver went to the “Hack-A-Shaq” method by continually fouling Howard. Howard would knock down 17-of-24 free-throws as he ended any chance of the Denver Nuggets coming back. The final score at the Toyota Center would favor Houston as they defeated Denver, 122-111.

Ty Lawson in a losing effort finished with an outstanding 28 points, 2 rebounds, and 17 rebounds.
Wilson Chandler was another key factor off the bench as he added 14 points, 5-of-10 shooting, with three rebounds.

What’s Up Next: The Denver Nuggets (4-5) will travel to Oklahoma City on Monday to take on the Thunder. Tip-off at 6:00.