DeMarcus Cousins, who started in place of ailing Nikola Jokic, scored a season-high 31 points and the Denver Nuggets bounced back from a loss Friday night to beat the struggling Houston Rockets 116-101.
Jokic, the current MVP, was ruled out due to a non-COVID-19 disease.
A midseason takeover by the Nuggets following his release by Cousins, Milwaukee, revealed that he was the start for Jokic during a pre-game shootaround.
"I was trying to get the best shot, trying to make the right game in every right," Cousins said. "I play the game the right way. It was very satisfying and it's even better when you have a coach that believes in you, an organization that believes in you and teammates." Those who pat you on the back. That's all I've been looking for in this journey. I've just found and like I said before, I'm going to leave everything on the floor."
Jaimichael Greene and Jeff Greene added 14 points each as Denver lost to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night for a seventh win in eight games.
Will Barton had 11 points, hitting two 3-pointers to pass JR Smith as the Nuggets' career leader with 769.
Christian Wood had 22 points for Houston and Jalen Green added 18. The Rockets lost 12 straight points.
Barton broke the mark a minute late in the third quarter to hit two 3-pointers. The Nuggets called a timeout during their ensuing possession and Barton's milestone flashed on the scoreboard, bringing the crowd to their feet with a roar that Barton acknowledged with a wave of applause from his arms.
"It was a surreal moment," Barton said. "It's something you dream of as a kid, to one day make history on the biggest scale."
Cousins added a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws around a jumper by Garrison Matthews in the final 1:16 of the third period and Denver took a 17-point lead in the final quarter. "He had the lead the whole game," said Rockets' Eric Gordon. "It's a game where you have to come and take them here. You have to disrupt their rhythm somehow. Of course we're in the game but it's a different kind of energy and effort to really try. To win the game And we didn't have it tonight."
Will Barton had 11 points, hitting two 3-pointers to pass JR Smith as the Nuggets' career leader with 769.
Christian Wood had 22 points for Houston and Jalen Green added 18. The Rockets lost 12 straight points.
Barton broke the mark a minute late in the third quarter to hit two 3-pointers. The Nuggets called a timeout during their ensuing possession and Barton's milestone flashed on the scoreboard, bringing the crowd to their feet with a roar that Barton acknowledged with a wave of applause from his arms.
"It was a surreal moment," Barton said. "It's something you dream of as a kid, to one day make history on the biggest scale."
Cousins added a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws around a jumper by Garrison Matthews in the final 1:16 of the third period and Denver took a 17-point lead in the final quarter. "He had the lead the whole game," said Rockets' Eric Gordon. "It's a game where you have to come and take them here. You have to disrupt their rhythm somehow. Of course we're in the game but it's a different kind of energy and effort to really try. To win the game And we didn't have it tonight."
Cousin's dunk, one of many he had in the game, left the Nuggets 103-89 with 4:43 and Denver maintained a double-digit lead for the rest. Cousins was kicked out of the game within just two minutes and received a hug from coach Michael Malone and an ovation from the crowd.
Tip-ins
Rockets: G Dennis Schröder missed the second game in a row with a sprained right ankle. ... Former Nuggets star Kenyon Martin was in the stands to watch his son, Kenyon Martin Jr., play for the Rockets. ... Houston has only seven wins in 34 Road Games.
Nuggets: G Austin Rivers was also ruled out of the game due to a non-COVID-19 illness. ... F Zeke Nnaji has been sidelined due to bilateral knee pain. ... Cousins' previous season was 22 points with Milwaukee against Dallas on December 23. ... Denver lost their season series 3–0 with the Rockets.
Next
Rocket: Host Memphis on Sunday Night.