Houston Rockets Outlast Denver Nuggets 115-111 In OT

After three days worth of rest, your Houston Rockets are back in action.

It certainly felt like it was an eternity, especially with the immense amount of misfortune the Houston Texans experienced this past Sunday.

You know, it’s always tough to tell if extended rest helps or hinders a basketball team.

You’d think it would help but sometimes the rust starts to formulate and it’s up to the team to knock it off.

You’d always want that to happen sooner than later but sometimes that’s not always the case.

Thanks goodness it wasn’t the latter for the Rockets tonight.

The team faced the Denver Nuggets on the road at the Pepsi Center, their previous opponent from four days ago in a home game at Toyota Center.

It wasn’t the prettiest of games to watch but there was plenty of action to keep passionate Rockets’ fans like us engaged.

The game started out with both teams going at each other bucket-for-bucket until late in the 1st quarter when Darrell Arthur started a 9-3 run putting the Nugs up by eight with 33 seconds left off a J.J. Hickson jump shot.

Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard

Ty Lawson

(3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Shortly thereafter, a foul was called on Arthur while James Harden was attempting a three-pointer.

This subsequently infuriated Nugs’ head coach Brian Shaw as he disagreed with the call and drew a technical foul as a result.

So this became a four-point play for Harden as he connected on the tech free throw plus the three from the violation.

This put the Rockets down by four at the end of the 1st. Nuggets 29, Rockets 25

To start out the 2nd quarter, Arthur, who obviously was upset with the call in the previous quarter, drew a technical foul sending Harden back to the line again.

Harden connected on free throw.

The Rockets were able to get within one with a Trevor Ariza three but Ty Lawson would start a 14-1 run culminating with a Harden layup. The Rockets were staring at a 12-point deficit. Nuggets 47, Rockets 35

Harden’s attempt to get the team back in the game wouldn’t work as the Nuggets went on a quick 5-0 run to put themselves up by 16 points over the Rockets with 3:48 left in the half. This was the Rockets largest deficit of the game. Nuggets 54, Rockets 38

Both Harden and Dwight Howard worked together the rest of the quarter to cut the Rockets’ deficit by four after a Donatas Motiejunas three. Nuggets 58, Rockets 54

Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets center

Dwight Howard

(12) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets center

Jusuf Nurkic

(23) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Free throws were the name of the game the rest of the way with Lawson drawing a foul off Patrick Beverley while Harden drew a foul off Arthur making the score 60-55 at the half.

The third quarter was a lot more even keel as the lead between either team wasn’t more than three points and each held their own. 3rd Quarter Score: Nuggets 78, Rockets 75

The 4th quarter was plenty entertaining as it was dueling match where these teams would dare each other to make the next move.

The Rockets did try to pull away a bit with a five-point lead which was their largest of the game.

However, Wilson Chandler hit two free throws accompanied with a three-pointer by Arthur to tie the game back up at 92-all.

Then after a couple of buckets by the Nuggets and some free throws by Howard, the Rockets found themselves up by one with the score being 96-95.

Then Harden went out of his mind.

For a guy that hadn’t scored a point in the 4th quarter, he hit a clutch three with 10 seconds left putting the Rockets up 98-96!

After a Arron Afflalo foul that Harden drew, it sent him to the line where he connected on the first and rimmed out the second.

With the Nuggets having no timeouts, they had to push the ball up the floor quickly, forcing the Rockets to put a full court press on them.

Strangely enough, no fouls were committed, opening Afflalo for the three-pointer to which he sunk with no time left on the clock.

Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard

Arron Afflalo

(10) shoots the game-tying basket at the end of the second half against the Houston Rockets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

It was the end of regulation and both teams were tied at 99-all.

Overtime!

At the start of the OT period, Beverley won the tip and D-Mo took over putting the Rockets up by two with a respective hook shot and fadeaway jumper. Rockets 103, Nuggets 101

Danilo Gallinari then hit a three-pointer, evaporating what the Rockets had strung together putting the Nuggets up by one with 2:43 left. Nuggets 104, Rockets 103

Harden then took over the reins to score six points — mostly at the free throw line — to put the Rox up 111-108 with 23 seconds left.

Six ticks off the clock later, Beverley was fouled by Lawson, Beverley hit two from the charity stripe to put the Rockets up by five. Rockets 113, Nuggets 108

Dec 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) celebrates with guard

Patrick Beverley

(2) and forward

Trevor Ariza

(1) during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

On the next possession, Afflalo hit a extremely difficult three — Harden’s hands were all in his face — as the ball rolled around the rim a bit and went in to cut the Nugs’ deficit by two. Rockets 113, Nuggets 111

To keep the clock stopped, Lawson fouled Beverley on the next possession to send him to the line where he sank both to seal the deal. Final Score: Rockets 115, Nuggets 111

The Beard, of course, led all scorers with 41 points, 10 assists, including shooting 11-for-21 from the field and 18-for-21 from the free throw line. This is his 2nd 40-point or greater performance this season, with the last being just one week ago against the Sacramento Kings.

Howard threw down 24 points, 16 boards, four blocks including an impressive 10-for-15 from the free throw line. Somebody’s been working on their free throws!

Beverley joined him with a double-double of his own with 12 points, 12 rebounds, five dimes, three steals including going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. That was all within a team-leading 46 minutes of action.

What a game! The Rockets are 3-0 in overtime this season and they’ve all been gems to see them do work!

With this team being down by 16 points late in 1st half, they rallied and got the coveted win!