The surging Rockets topped the Nuggets 119-114, a score much closer than the game actually was. Houston was led by James Harden’s 41 points while the Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic with 21.
Denver shot 48.4 percent from the field (34.5% from the three-point line) but only 66.7% from the free throw line. The Rockets shot 50.6% from the field (42.9% from three) and 81.2% from the line.
The loss dropped the Nuggets into the eight spot in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the ninth-place Clippers. The Nuggets need to stay on-pace in the loss column, last night’s game was their 27th defeat. Positions three through 10 in the Western Conference are within four loss-column games (the idea being that you can’t “make up’ losses). The loss to the Conference-leading Rockets puts more pressure on the Nuggets, Tuesday’s contest with the Clippers becoming must-win as the Nuggets try to maintain their home court.
The game was standard Rockets/Harden fare with the presumptive MVP getting 16 trips to the free throw line. Nuggets star and big man Nikola Jokic was awarded nine free throws. Never is the disparity in league officiating more on display than when the Rockets are involved. From the Ryan Anderson sniper flop to the no-contact foul on Wilson Chandler vs. Harden, there were questionable calls throughout the contest.