Denver Nuggets vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats On Nov 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 22, 2017

HOUSTON -- James Harden and Chris Paul paced a dazzling first-half blitz before Trevor Ariza stifled a Denver Nuggets rally in the third quarter as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 125-95 victory on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.

Harden and Paul combined for 44 points and 21 assists, tallying 34 points on 10-for-15 shooting prior to intermission as the Rockets (14-4) raced to a 35-point halftime lead. When Will Barton (20 points) and Nikola Jokic (17 points) helped Denver (10-8) cut the deficit to 81-60 midway through the third, Ariza responded with 11 consecutive points to re-establish control.

Ariza finished with a season-high 25 points, hitting 7 of 10 3-pointers as the Rockets made 18 of 41 3s despite playing without a pair of their top marksmen, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.

Paul was instrumental in that accuracy, shooting 4 for 7 from deep while pairing 12 assists to his 23 points in 28 minutes. Harden cooled in the second half but finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Despite missing their first six shots, the Rockets shot 54.9 percent.

Following the frigid start, Paul got the Rockets going with a 10-foot jumper at the 8:23 mark of the first quarter. Houston didn't look back, connecting on its ensuing 13 field goals en route to a 36-point first quarter.

Harden ended that torrid stretch by misfiring on a 3, but the Rockets resumed their red-hot shooting in the second quarter, going 13 for 18 overall in that period.

Paul sank two 3s and scored on a driving layup to extend the Houston lead to 46-21. Harden tallied 10 points in the second, and Houston received an additional boost from reserve center Nene, who finished with 13 points. Luc Mbah a Moute also scored 13 off the Houston bench.

NOTES: Nuggets F Paul Millsap opted for surgery to correct a left wrist ligament injury and will be sidelined for at least three months. Millsap, who sustained the injury on Sunday against the Lakers, signed a 3-year, $90 million deal with the Nuggets on July 13. ... The Rockets were without a pair of rotation players: F Ryan Anderson (illness) and G Eric Gordon (calf strain). P.J. Tucker replaced Anderson in the starting lineup. Houston also recalled Briante Weber, Zhou Qi and Troy Williams from the RGV Vipers of the G League. ... Rockets G Chris Paul remains on a minutes restriction with a cap of roughly 28 minutes per game.