HOUSTON – Playing the Rockets on the road and trying to slow down James Harden, and to a lesser degree his backcourt mate Chris Paul, is a daunting task for any team. And throw in the post play of Clint Capela, and things aren’t any easier.
So when a variable impacts the game like guard Austin Rivers did Thursday, it makes an impression on opposing coaches.
Sure, Harden had his 38 points, and Capela’s 17 points and 15 rebounds offset Nikola Jokic’s 16-point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance, but the bottom line is the Nuggets couldn’t keep pace shooting the ball in a decisive 112-85 blowout loss to the Rockets on Thursday night at Toyota Center.
“Austin Rivers, I felt was the MVP of the game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “He’s the one that allowed them to break the game open.
“You have James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, you can’t let an X-factor come in the game and impact the game (like) Austin Rivers did tonight.”
Rivers had 13 of his 15 points in the first half, 10 in the second quarter. Denver led the entire first quarter and took a 25-22 lead after 12 minutes. But a 40-point second quarter fueled the Rockets to a 62-44 halftime advantage and the Nuggets were playing catch-up against one of the NBA’s best front-running teams.
“At the end of the first (quarter), they went on a little run,” said Monte Morris, who scored 16 points for the Nuggets and shot 36.9 percent from the field (31-of-84). “That was the biggest difference. We never challenged them.”
Rivers came off the bench and sparked Houston’s run.
“I got good looks,” said Rivers, who was 6-of-10 from the field. “It started with our defensive pressure.”
For the game, the Nuggets, which got 20 points from Jamal Murray, made only 4 of 24 3-pointers. The Rockets connected on 15-of-40 3-pointers, with Harden making 5-of-11.
“Itap a make-or-miss league, and in the second quarter they made them at a high clip and we did not,” Malone said. “We’re a lot better of a team when we can step in and make shots. Out of those 20 misses, we had a lot of good looks in there.”
Rivers’ contribution had the Nuggets reflecting in the locker room.
“They made a lot of shots and Austin Rivers impacted the game,” Denver guard Gary Harris said. “We have to be better in that second quarter.”
Houston (48-28) reminded Denver (50-24) how difficult it is to win on the road in the NBA against premier teams with star power. And the Rockets have plenty of firepower.
Denver came into Thursday a half-game behind Golden State (tied in loss column) for the best record in the Western Conference.
From here it doesn’t get any easier for Denver, which plays at Oklahoma City on Friday and is at Golden State on Tuesday. The Nuggets play the Trail Blazers on April 5 and 7.
“We’re in the middle of a tough stretch, this is our fifth game in eight days, going into (Friday’s) game — which will be our sixth in nine days,” Malone said. “Fatigue is a factor for all the teams right now. We have to find ways to fight through it.”
Denver has beaten Oklahoma City three times this season.
“We have to go in there with the mindset that itap going to be a tough, physical game, tough place to play,” Malone said. “Take care of the ball, don’t fuel their break. And they have two guys in (Russell) Westbrook and (Paul) George that can dominate the game.”
The early portion of the game on Thursday favored the Nuggets.
Excelling in half-court, Jokic scored on or set up eight of Denver’s first 10 baskets as the Nuggets jumped out to a quick start.
A Jokic tip-in gave Denver a 23-16 lead with 2:15 remaining in the opening quarter. The Nuggets were at their best when Jokic was on the court. Denver was up by seven when Jokic subbed out. When he returned, the Nuggets were down by seven, making only 3 of 12 shots from the field during his absence. The 7-footer was making that much of a difference.
But Malone can’t play Jokic 48 minutes. He has to rest.
