Nuggets at Rockets
THE STORY: The race for the final two spots in the Western
Conference playoffs is heading into the home stretch with the Nuggets
and Rockets clinging to the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. Denver jumped ahead
with a 101-86 victory Sunday in the first game of a home-and-home set. A
win in Houston on Monday would give the Nuggets the tiebreaker if these
rivals are tied at the end of the regular season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FS Houston
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (33-27): Denver, which leads the league in
fast-break points at 19.9 per game, found another gear in Sunday’s win,
scoring 29 fast-break points. Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo were behind
the wheel of the offense, scoring 20 points apiece. Corey Brewer was
also key in the transition game, shooting 7 for 12 and scoring 14 points
off the bench.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (32-28): Houston lost
its third straight Sunday after winning four games in a row on the road.
The Rockets shot only 36.8 percent against the Nuggets and allowed its
opponent to top the century mark for the third straight game. Houston is
giving up an average of more than 105 points on 50.1 percent shooting
during its slide.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston lost
center Marcus Camby after only 7:41 of floor time because of a sore
back. Camby is averaging 6.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in his 15 games
since being acquired from Portland.
2. If the Rockets win Monday,
the season series with the Nuggets will be locked at 2-2. However,
Houston would win a tiebreaker because of its superior conference
record.
3. Nuggets forward Al Harrington continues to play
despite a torn meniscus in his knee. He had five points and four
rebounds Sunday after averaging more than 15 points in the previous 10
contests.