DENVER -- Momentum from the previous game carried over for the Houston Rockets in a dominating 128-110 victory on Friday night against the Nuggets.
An epic double-overtime victory in Oakland over the Golden State Warriors pushed the Rockets to the brink of exhaustion late Thursday night.
The Rockets arrived here around 5 a.m. local time, getting to their hotel around 5:30. Forward Trevor Ariza said it took him about 15 minutes before getting to sleep, only to awake at 9 a.m. He needed two more naps before heading to the Pepsi Center to prepare for the 20th game of the regular season.
Forward Ryan Anderson said he didn’t get much sleep, still recovering from a preseason trip to China and the grueling road schedule the Rockets have been on.
James Harden, who has produced historic numbers this season, dismissed any notion that he got any sleep.
In pregame warm-ups, little used guard Tyler Ennis was slouched on the bench as Ariza performed his normal routine on the floor. A look at Ariza’s face said it all: He was tired too.
Harden clearly was not himself during the game. Looking weary, he moved the ball up the floor in a measured pace, waiting for someone to get open.
And when the Rockets were open, they controlled the Nuggets, scoring a season-high 73 points in the first half and making 17 3-pointers -- the NBA-leading 19th time Houston has made 10 or more from 3-point range.
Houston completed a five-game road trip at 4-1, finishing with significant victories at the start and back end. The impressive five-game stretch away from home might push the Rockets into the elite status of the Western Conference.
“That was our focus, obviously,” Anderson said. “We got in at 5 a.m. and knew we had to bring energy and get ourselves ready. I think we did a good job of getting ourselves ready. We just moved and shot the ball well and got open looks, which helps us, and did a great job in transition by feeding each other.”
The only concern was Ariza slowly walking off the court with about four minutes left due to back spasms.
Ariza finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals in 31 minutes.
The Rockets played with more energy than the Nuggets, which was surprising, considering Denver last played on Wednesday at home.
Clint Capela scored the first basket of the game on an Ariza steal. Ariza and Anderson each made two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the game, setting the tone.
Houston didn’t let up in the fourth quarter, even with the game out of reach.
During one sequence in the fourth, Corey Brewer and Eric Gordon each deflected passes on the same inbound plays.
Late in the fourth, Gordon dove for a loose ball as Wilson Chandler mishandled a pass. Gordon was rewarded for his hustle, as he ran down court and splashed a 3-pointer on the other end.
“We have to,” Harden said of Houston's fast start on Friday night, "especially against a team like this at high altitude kicking in and they get momentum and they make shots -- it would be tough. We got off to a really good start, guys knocked down shots, and it just rolled that way throughout the entire game. But overall, we like the win and we move forward.”
The box score shows Harden with 20 points and six assists. Gordon and Anderson added 18 each, and Capela snagged 10 rebounds to go with his 13 points. Patrick Beverley, the glue to this team, was plus-23 in plus/minus, with six assists, 11 points and two blocked shots.
Yes, the Rockets were tired and irritable with lack of sleep on Friday, and Harden got into it with Danilo Gallinari. But they did something coach Mike D’Antoni has been talking about all season: Win games and forget about their problems.
Forget about how the Rockets started the season with seven of the first eight games on the road.
The Rockets now have played 14 of their first 20 away from home, which includes two five-game road trips.
“It was adrenaline,” Brewer said of Friday night’s win. “But if you want to be a good team, you've got to win games like this. It’s like Coach said: If you want to be great, you've got to win these games.”