Denver Nuggets hold off Houston Rockets to take 93-87 victory – NBA Recap
The Denver Nuggets picked up their second consecutive win of the season when they defeated Houston Rockets 93-87 here at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night. The Nuggets were in control of the game over the first half, but a poor performance in the third period where they were outscored 23-13 by Houston led to a thrilling and close finish to the game. However, the Nuggets were eventually able to take the victory. Ty Lawson was the top scorer for the Nuggets with 21 points and 8 assists, going 9 of 20 from the field. Carlos Delfino came off the bench to lead the Rockets in scoring, finishing with 19 points and 5 rebounds.
Both teams started off well and remained neck to neck in the opening period. Ty Lawson scored a three pointer to put the Nuggets up 11-9, but Omer Asik replied with a layup to tie the game at 11. Iguodala nailed a three pointer later to put the Nuggets up 16-13, and Kenneth Faried followed with a three point play that had the Nuggets leading 19-13. After Jeremy Lin scored a jump shot for Houston, the Nuggets scored four straight points to extend their lead to 23-15. Denver led 25-18 at the end of the period.
The Rockets came out charging in the second period, as Chandler Parsons and Carlos Delfino scored back to back threes to open the scoring for the quarter and cut the Nuggets lead down to 24-25 within the first minute. Denver held on to the lead but the Rockets were right on their tail till the time Lawson scored a three pointer and then hit back to back layups to put the Nuggets up 42-35. Back to back three pointers by Lawson and Corey Brewer had the Nuggets leading 54-39, in full control of the game. Denver led 56-41 at halftime.
Houston staged a strong comeback in the third period, going on a 7-0 run to cut the Nuggets lead down to 61-56. Patrick Patterson then hit a three pointer followed by a layup by Delfino to have Houston within two of Denver. The Nuggets scored the next six points but Delfino closed the period with a three pointer to have Houston trailing 64-69.
Delfino scored another three pointer in the early minutes of the final period, but Brewer replied with a three pointer followed by two free throws, and an alley oop dunk by Faried later had the Nuggets leading 78-69. Back to back layups by James Harden and Lin had the Rockets within six, and a dunk by Harden later on had the Nuggets lead down to 89-85. However, Denver held on to the lead till the end and picked up a 93-87 victory.
Kenneth Faried finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Brewer had 14 points and Andre Iguodala finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds. Patterson had 18 points and 5 rebounds for Houston, where as Omer Asik finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Denver shot better from the field compared to Houston.
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