• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rockets hope to rebound against Nuggets

Mar 2, 2012 - 4:04 PM (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets haven't achieved much success away from Space City this season and hope to rebound from a recent loss when they return to the Toyota Center tonight to face the Denver Nuggets.

The Rockets had won four in a row and five of six games before dropping a 104-83 decision at Utah on Wednesday. They came out firing in the first quarter, leading 26-18 after the first 12 minutes, but the Jazz took over from there and held Houston to 39 percent shooting on the night.

Luis Scola had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Houston, which got 14 points from Goran Dragic and 13 out of Kyle Lowry. Rockets leading scorer Kevin Martin posted only six points in defeat.

"I think we definitely felt like we got outworked tonight," said Lowry. "Those guys played with the intensity and tenacity that a desperate team, that came off a four-game losing streak, wanted to get a win."

Houston will try to extend its home winning streak to five games and is 15-4 as the host this season. It is also slated to entertain the Los Angeles Clippers on this current residency. The Rockets, owners of a 6-11 away mark, are tied with Dallas at 3 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the Southwest lead.

Denver will play back-to-back road games in Houston and San Antonio, and is coming off just its second win in the past seven games -- a 104-95 victory versus the Portland Trail Blazers in the Rocky Mountains.

Ty Lawson returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury and led seven players in double-digit scoring with 18 points and nine assists. Timofey Mozgov added 14 points, Kenneth Faried had 13 and 10 rebounds and Al Harrington finished with 13 and 10 for the Nuggets.

"It was a great team win. We came out with a lot of energy," Harrington said.

Arron Afflalo netted 12 points and both Corey Brewer and Jordan Hamilton contributed 11 points, as the Nuggets halted a two-game slide. The Nuggets will try to halt a four-game road losing streak tonight and are 9-9 as the guest in 2011-12.

The banged-up Nuggets are still without forward Danilo Gallinari because of an ankle injury and both guard Rudy Fernandez (back) and center Nene (calf) are expected to miss tonight's game. Nene has missed eight games in a row and is averaging 13.4 points and 7.8 boards this season.

Denver lost to Houston, 99-90, on Feb. 6 this season at the Pepsi Center and is winless in the previous three matchups between the teams. The Nuggets have lost 14 of the last 19 as the guest in this series.