CLINT Capela of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP
HOUSTON — With James Harden getting double-teamed almost every time he had the ball Monday night against the Denver Nuggets, he looked for other Houston Rockets to step up and make plays.
We’re just a real tough team when we’re knocking down shots like that
Chief among them was Clint Capela, who set a career high with 31 points as the Rockets beat the Nuggets 125-113.
“He did what he was supposed to do,” said Harden, who had 32 points. “He finished. He played extremely well. Played hard.”
P.J. Tucker set a career-high with seven three-pointers and scored a season-high 21 points to help Houston win for the 12th time in 14 games. Capela had 19 points by halftime as Harden fed him again and again.
“Whenever I’m under the rim and you put a little on me what’s going to happen is that 99 or 100 percent of the time I’m going to dunk the ball,” Capela said.
“This is what happened tonight and I did a great job of finishing aggressive under the rim.”
Houston was up by 11 after two free throws by Torrey Craig with about 5:30 left before Tucker and Harden made three-pointers on consecutive possessions to make it 117-100 about a minute later.
Gerald Green had 21 points and made six treys on a night Houston made 22 three-pointers for its sixth game this season with at least 20.
“We’re just a real tough team when we’re knocking down shots like that,” Green said.
Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.
“Give them credit,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You know Harden is going to get his, but when P.J. Tucker and Gerald Green score the amount of threes that they made, I believe 13 combined, that’s a tough one to overcome.”
Harden had 14 assists, six three-pointers and scored at least 30 points for the 13th straight game.
“He’s probably the hardest guy in the NBA to guard,” Malone said.
Coach Mike D’Antoni enjoys watching the different things Harden does to help his team win night after night.
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