The Denver Nuggets were riding a three-game losing streak and were looking for a revitalization of sorts. It helped that Denver had welcomed back Marcus Camby to the Pepsi Center and they were sporting their new-and-improved City edition uniforms better known as the rainbow skyline jerseys, but Denver also needed to find a way to secure a win and stop their losing streak.
Denver was able to limit James Harden for about three-and-a-half quarters, but the former Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association was too much to handle late in the game as he carried the Rockets to their second win in a row while also dropping Denver to 9-5 on the year thanks to a deflating four-game losing streak. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Denver lost to Houston by a score of 109-99.
The first quarter was pretty much exactly what would be expected. The Rockets were able to generate an obnoxious 11 3-point attempts — making five of those 11 shots from distance — and were switching the majority of screens on defense. Because of the Rockets switch-heavy scheme, Nikola Jokic was able to exploit a wide-range of issues. Nearly every offensive possession of the first quarter for the Nuggets involved Jokic forcing James Harden to defend him as he went to work in the post as a facilitator and a scorer.
Once Jokic began forcing the Rockets to double him, he began finding open jump shooters; particularly Gary Harris who was able to knock down three 3-pointers in the first quarter alone on his way to 11 points. That was a big deal for Harris, who was shooting just 27.4 percent from distance to begin the season.
By the time the first-quarter buzzer sounded, Denver lead Houston 30-27 by shooting 61 percent from the field and 57 percent from 3-point distance.
To begin the second quarter, the Nuggets bench mob — who had been decimating their opponents most of the year — came out firing once again. Both of Trey Lyles and Monte Morris were hitting shots from beyond the 3-point arc while Mason Plumlee was doing damage down low. Even with the Nuggets offense humming, their defense was not able to limit Houston as the game became a battle of runs. Houston would go on a 9-0 run and Denver would answer with an 13-3 run of their own.
By the time halftime arrived, the Nuggets lead the Rockets by just a single point with a score of 55-54. Denver’s offense was humming as they assisted on 16 of their 21 made baskets and their defense held Harden to just three first-half points.
In the third quarter, it was the Rockets who were the aggressor. They were getting hammer dunks from Capela, generating open 3-point looks, and playing stout defense. Houston began the third quarter on a 17-11 run and Denver found themselves down five points without much momentum.
The Nuggets offense began to sputter badly and the Rockets took full advantage. They were forcing turnovers, getting out in transition, and were getting to the foul line consistently and it led to Denver carrying a 10-point deficit into the fourth and final quarter after being outscored 32-21 in the third frame.
Still, even with a double-digit deficit at the start of the last quarter of regulation, the Nuggets continued to battle. Even with the odds staked against them, this Nuggets team is nothing if not resilient and played as such.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone inserted Torrey Craig into the game and he immediately injected Denver with more adrenaline and intensity than they played with all night. In his first three minutes of action, Craig was able to finish a lob with a big dunk, hit a three-pointer, and had a big block on the defensive end. Craig helped Denver go on a 9-3 run to begin the fourth quarter which cut the Rockets lead to just four points.
When it mattered most, Harden suddenly returned to MVP form and began to exploit every crack in in the Nuggets armor. Every time the Nuggets fought back within a bucket or two, Harden took the game into his own hands and carried the Rockets to a victory. He was getting to the rim at will, drawing fouls on both ends of the floor, and hitting his patented step-back 3-point shots.
Eventually, Denver let go of the rope and the Rockets opened up a 15-point lead late in the game sending Denver to their fourth-straight loss. Jokic was able to score 14 points to go with 12 rebounds and seven assists. Morris led the Nuggets in scoring with 19 points to go with six assists and just two turnovers in 30 minutes of action. On the other side, Harden put on an offense clinic and finished with 22 points and 11 assists.
Next, the Nuggets will stay within the friendly confines of the Pepsi Center to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night at 7pm MST as they look to stop their four-game losing streak.