Depleted Denver’s Defense Defeated

The Houston Cougars are in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1992. Amidst the madness o March, the Houston Rockets are trying to make the NBA playoffs. In the Mile High city, perhaps they are more concerned with Brady Quinn’s arrival than basketball. Monday night, the Rockets rallied to complete their largest fourth quarter comeback of the season in defeating the Denver Nuggets 125-123 at Toyota Center. Houston fans watched the home team overcome an eleven point deficit. The crowd of 16,000 witness Aaron Brooks delivering the game winning basket with 2.9 seconds left. The Rockets pulled off the NBA version of a clutch performance and snapped the Nuggets’ six game winning streak in the process.
Brooks, the savior of the game, compiled 31 points and nine assists in propelling hopeful Houston Monday night. The Rockets’ second year point guard was outshined by only Carmelo Anthony. The All-Star Nugget scored 45 points in the loss to snag his seventh 40-plus point game of the season. Anthony was 6-of-7 from the line and got fat on three 3-pointers and 10 rebounds. He missed a 3-point try at the buzzer, however. The Rockets’ best offensive first half was on display last night. The Rockets shot 59% in the first half. Houston led by 11 points at the half but the advantage vanished quickly after the break. Chauncey Billups sank consecutive 3-pointers early in the third quarter to get Denver’s offense moving. Billups finished with 17 points. Denver trailed by just two points heading into the fourth quarter.
Kevin Martin tallied 29 points for Houston. Martin surged in the second half, scoring seven points during a 16-6 spurt that put Houston up 58-42 with just over nine minutes remaining. Denver rode a 104-93 lead into the final quarter, with Anthony in the driver’s seat. Melo converted 11 points in the third quarter. Houston pulled back to within four behind Luis Scola’s inside scoring and Shane Battier’s sinkers from the rainbow. The high-scoring Nuggets slowed down the stretch, but rallied to grab a five point lead in the final minute. Trevor Ariza knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night with 1:21 remaining and Scola notched a layup on a fast-break rebound. Scola charged the lane with the tying layup and swished the ensuing free throw to put the Rockets on top by one point. Number four took a pass from midcourt after getting up from the floor on the opposite side of the court, and glided blissfully to the rim. Scola secured his sixth straight double-double with a superb 23 point, 11 rebound contest. Anthony knotted the game at 123 after Brooks split two free throws. The Rockets’ guard made up for the miss by going to work and lifting his team in the final six seconds. Houston spread the floor and allowed Brooks to make a sharp, one-dribble move to his right before nailing the deciding jumper. He looked like he was going to make a hard break to the basket, but instead pulled off the fake and plopped it in the net. Houston is now five games behind Portland in the Western Conference playoff race.
Denver came into Monday averaging 116 points per game and running opponents off the court. The defense was exposed by Houston at Toyota Center. Their inability to stop Brooks coupled with the Rocket’s knack for denying Denver the ball resulted in the Nuggets’ first road loss in four tries. Houston’s big three (Scola, Brooks and Martin) combined for 83 points and 19 boards. Kyle Lowry’s fourth quarter defense was excellent and his slick drives to the basket past Denver’s defense exhilarating. The Rockets just passed the ball really well in the last frame. The high octane Denver offense finally caught up to a stalwart defense. As long as Houston’s defense gives them a chance to win games, the Rockets will have success on the hardwood.

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