The shorthanded Houston Rockets dropped to 0-2 this season after a 124-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
In the first quarter, the Rockets seemed unwell in the attack. Out of a 14-point attack by Christian Wood, who hit 3-4 from bottom, and seven points from James Harden, Houston struggled to get a basket.
Despite staying strong throughout the first quarter, Houston was completely goalless in the last 3:49 of the quarter without the combination of Harden and Wood on the floor, allowing the Nuggets to go for a 14-0 streak. Houston fell 36-26 at the end of 12.
The fights did not end immediately for the Rockets in the second quarter. Houston didn’t get his first bucket until 9:46 in the quarter, finally ending a 20-0 Nuggets race with a Jae’Sean Tate three.
Houston would drop to 16 in the quarter, but an attack by Harden would bring them within eight. Despite Harden’s incredible 21-point quarter, Houston’s deficit widened to 15 again, until Harden ended up leading Houston to just 10 points in the interval. Wood (20 points, three rebounds) and Harden (28 points, six assists) combined 48 Rockets points when they entered the break 70-60.
The range would be the most competitive this game could have.
The Nuggets, as they did throughout the game, increased their lead at the start of the third quarter, only for the Rockets to reduce it to seven, but then it would just be Denver from there. With Houston unable to score or stop, they would go into the fourth period losing by 106-83.
Harden dropped out of the night after three quarters with 34 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
A team of fully loaded Nuggets (which looks delicious by the way) was too much for the Rockets, and that should be expected. Nikola Jokic filled the stats sheet with 19 points, 18 assists and 12 rebounds. Jamal Murray made 21 points, 4-6 long shots. Paul Millsap scored 19, going 7-8 on the field, 3-4 out of three.
Christian Wood ended the game with 23 points, after 9 of 20 pitches and an immaculate 4-5 of three to go along with three rebounds and two blocks. David Nwaba looks like he will be an important player for Houston after finishing the night with 14 points, five rebounds, two steals and some very athletic finishes in the ring, while he is recovering from an Achilles injury. Jae’Sean Tate may have scored just five points, but he had seven rebounds, and I also needed an excuse to show this poster.
The great news for Harden, Wood and the rest of the Rockets is that help is on the way. As long as everything goes according to plan, the rest of the Houston team will be there on Thursday for their home debut, while the Rockets host the Sacramento Kings at the Toyota Center on New Year’s Eve.