| |
|
NBA -- Returning Howard leads Rockets past Nuggets, 108-96
By Adeline Deladisma PhilBoxing.com Mon, 15 Dec 2014

HOUSTON -- In front of their 12th straight sellout crowd at the Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 108-96 Saturday night.
The victory coincided with the return of Houston center Dwight Howard, who missed the previous 11 games due to a strained right knee.
The Rockets were paced by the NBA's leading scorer James Harden, who is averaging 26.4 points a game. Harden scrambled in the final nanoseconds of the game to grab his tenth rebound to secure the third triple-double of his career (24 points, 10 assists). He has kept his team steady in Howard's absence, leading Houston to an 8-3 record during that time.
The Rockets struggled early and watched the Nuggets build a lead that grew by as many as 10 in the opening minutes. Denver shot a high 60 percent from the filed during that span while Houston shot only 23.1 percent.
Houston found their rhythm in the second quarter and out scored Denver 33-17 to seize the lead at halftime.
Houston also got a lift from Donatas Motiejunas who scored a career high 25 points.
Darnell Arthur came off the bench for Denver and led in scoring with 20 points. Forward JJ Hickson (14 points, 10 rebounds) and guard Ty Lawson (19 points, 12 assists) each had double-doubles for the Nuggets.
Howard posted 26 points and 13 rebounds and played 30 minutes. He also surpassed 10,000 career rebounds in his return.
Head coach Kevin McHale offered his assessment. "Dwight was fantastic. It's hard to do that... to take that much time off and then come back and have any semblance of rhythm at all. He looked good and we'll just have to build from there."
And Howard's take?
"It's good being back on the floor." (AD)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Adeline Deladisma.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Petecio in, Paalam out By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES A FULL SELLOUT AND BROADCAST DETAILS AHEAD OF U.S. DEBUT EVENT THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO IN TEMECULA, CALIF. , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Tomorrow Night's CB Promotions Card at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton is Postponed , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PHL bids to host WB Congress By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Joel "Lethal" Lewis talks boxing evolution and upcoming Thunderdome 52 fight this Friday in Perth , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Granite Chin Promotions signs Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Mabuhay at Salamat: ‘The Thirty’ Filipino Boxers Who Became Giants By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025World-ranked Lightweight Dynamo Justin Pauldo Collides with Hard-punching Nike Theran , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Fastest Pinay in IronMan 70.3 World comes from Lanao del Norte By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin confirmed as new President of World Boxing at Congress 2025 in Rome , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Panama City will host the World Boxing Ordinary Congress in 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Tadlas, Busayong rule 42K in 3rd SDSPPO Run for a Cause By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025"The Mexican Monster" Terrorizes the 175: Benavidez Demolishes Yarde to Win WBC Light Heavyweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Harden scores 55 points for a new LA Clippers record By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Devin Haney Dominates Brian Norman Jr. to Claim WBO Welterweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|