Rockets at Nuggets
The Houston Rockets are turning things around following a four-game swoon but are looking at a tough back-to-back that starts with a visit to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. The Rockets, who complete their high-altitude back-to-back at Utah on Monday, began the four-game road trip with a 131-124 triumph at Minnesota on Friday.
Houston knocked off the Nuggets at home 121-105 on Wednesday behind 28 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists from point guard Russell Westbrook, who was at it again with 45 points, 10 assists and six boards in Friday's triumph. Westbrook's surge is helping to cover a slump from fellow former MVP James Harden, who went 3-of-13 from the floor and finished with a season-low 12 points in the win over the Timberwolves. The Nuggets rebounded from their loss at Houston by holding off Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans in a 113-106 victory on Friday to finish off the three-game trip, which began with a victory at Minnesota. "I'm just proud that our guys pulled this one out to go 2-1 on the road trip where we're still undermanned," Denver coach Michael Malone, who was ejected in the third quarter Friday, told reporters. "I thought (assistant coach) Wes (Unseld) and the coaches did a great job and the players did a hell of a job."
TIME: 3:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBA TV, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Altitude
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (28-16): Westbrook is averaging 34.2 points on 57 percent shooting over the last five games and went 16-of-27 from the floor and 13-of-13 from the free-throw line on Friday. "Russell was just superman tonight," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters after the win. "When he plays like that, at that speed, you know, we didn't play particularly well and still put up (131) points. Didn't shoot the ball particularly well. So, that's Russell getting us more shots and going." Trending in the opposite direction is Harden, who is shooting 33.3 percent over the last five games - including 6-of-44 from beyond the arc - and is questionable for Sunday due to a thigh contusion.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (31-14): Denver shot 37.7 percent from the floor at New Orleans but attempted 24 more field goals than the Pelicans thanks to 24 offensive rebounds and 17 forced turnovers. "In Houston we did not rebound the ball," Malone told reporters. "To outrebound them and have 24 offensive rebounds, it showed just how much this game meant to us. We did not want to get swept by them. To pull this out with so many guys playing hard, it was great to watch." The Nuggets racked up the big rebounding totals without big men Mason Plumlee (foot) and Paul Millsap (knee), who remained out along with guard Jamal Murray (ankle).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Rockets SG Eric Gordon is averaging 26 points over the last two games.
2. Nuggets F Michael Porter Jr. (back) returned from a one-game absence on Friday and collected 15 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.
3. The home team took each of the last six meetings, including Denver's 105-95 triumph over visiting Houston on Nov. 20.