Recap: Denver vs. Houston
Sports Network | November 30, 2008
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chauncey Billups scored 28 points and dished out 10 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 104-94 victory over the shorthanded Houston Rockets.
Houston was without Tracy McGrady (knee) and Brent Barry (calf) for the second consecutive game. Denver had its own injury problems, as Carmelo Anthony left after the first half with a right elbow contusion.
J.R. Smith drained 5-of-9 three-pointers en route to 19 points on the night for Denver, which has won four of five. Nene had 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Kenyon Martin tallied 15 points in the win, Denver's eighth in 10 games.
Yao Ming scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Rockets, which had a four-game road winning streak snapped. Ron Artest posted 13 points and six blocked shots, while Rafer Alston contributed 16 points and six assists in the loss. Luther Head, a night after scoring 21 in a win over the Spurs, scored only three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the loss.
Nene and Yao each scored six points in the first quarter, and both teams played to a 21-21 tie after the opening 12 minutes.
Aaron Brooks scored nine points for Houston in the second, but Nene added seven more points for Denver to stake the Nuggets to a 48-44 halftime cushion.
Denver pushed its lead to nine thanks to a 7-0 run early in the third, and Billups' three midway through the quarter gave the Nuggets a 72-58 lead. The hosts maintained their lead, and took a 78-68 edge to the fourth.
Head's three-pointer got the Rockets to within seven with 8:18 to play, but Nene's dunk with just over five minutes left gave Denver an 11-point lead at 97-86.
Alston again brought Houston within seven on a free throw with 3:21 to play, but the Rockets never got closer than that, and Denver went on to post the victory.
Brooks scored 15 points...Denver also plays Toronto and San Antonio on its homestand...Denver has beaten Houston in three of four meetings...Houston's Carl Landry had 14 points.
