NBA Power Rankings: Rudy Gobert leads Utah Jazz up the charts
By Phil Watson
Previous: . Denver Nuggets. 11. team. 73. . 29-12
Last week: Beat Clippers 114-104, beat Charlotte 100-86, won at Golden State 134-131 (OT)
This week: Sunday vs. Indiana, Monday at Minnesota, Wednesday at Houston, Friday at New Orleans
The Denver Nuggets, despite hitting a run of injuries that sidelined Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, rolled to a 3-0 week last week, coming back from 19 points down early to win at Golden State by scoring 21 points in the five-minute overtime session.
That matched the second-most the Nuggets have scored in an overtime period, topped only by their 23 points against the Phoenix Suns in a 112-109 win on Dec. 23, 1996. Denver had also scored 21 overtime points in a 116-110 win at Seattle on Jan. 18, 2005.
It was a week that included a major breakout for rookie Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets’ first-round pick in 2018 who sat out all of last season with a back injury. Porter averaged 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game — all off the bench. He shot 61.3 percent overall and was 6-for-9 from 3-point range.
The week included his first career-double-double, 18 points and 10 boards, in the overtime win over the Warriors on Thursday.
Previous: . Houston Rockets. 10. team. 169. . 26-15
Last week: Lost at Memphis 121-110, lost to Portland 117-107, lost to Lakers 124-115
This week: Monday vs. Oklahoma City, Wednesday vs. Denver, Friday at Minnesota
The Houston Rockets went 0-3 last week, matching their longest skid of the season. The Rockets also lost three straight from Nov. 20-24. If one wants to play with the math, Houston lost by 11 points, 10 points and nine points respectively last week, so the Rockets are just eight more losses away from their next victory (this theory has not been scientifically proven).
James Harden basically embodies the struggles for Houston right now. He averaged 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 38.2 minutes per game over the three games. But Harden shot a dismal 34.8 percent overall and made just 23.5 percent of his 11.3 3-point tries per night.
He was held to a season-low 13 points in the loss to the Trail Blazers, just the second time this season Harden has failed to score at least 20 points. He had 19 in the Rockets’ season-opening loss to the Bucks back on Oct. 24.