Dec

21

Carter’s Jumper in Second Overtime Propels Nuggets to Win Over Rockets 112-111

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

???????????????????????????????? ?Denver Nuggets guard Anthony Carter, left, is congratulated by guard Allen Iverson after Carter hit the winning basket in the double overtime period in the Nuggets? 112-111 victory over the Houston Rockets Thursday night.?

No one can accuse the Denver Nuggets of not having any resolve Thursday.? Nuggets guard Anthony Carter’s jumper with 0.8 seconds left in overtime #2?boosted the Nuggets to a tough, hard-earned win over the Houston Rockets 112-111 at Denver.? Neither team did especially well trying the run-and-gun offense (Denver shot 37%, Houston 40%) - not that they didn’t try.

Houston’s early success - namely in the first quarter - was on the success of the 3-point shot; Rockets guards Luther Head and Rafer Alston hit three of them (Head made 2 of them) to help the Rockets take a 23-18 lead going into the second quarter.? Denver trailed 27-23 early in the 2nd when Allen Iverson scored on a 3-point play and reserve guard Chucky Atkins made two 3-pointers to cap an 11-2 Nuggets run.? Denver led at halftime 44-42 thanks to their advantage at the free throw line; the Nuggets would outscore the Rockets 12-2 from the charity stripe as Houston was whistled for 11 fouls in the period to the Nuggets 5 fouls.

Fast forward to the late 4th quarter; Houston trailed 94-87 late in the 4th when they would score the last 7 points in regulation, including the last score by a 3-pointer by Head.? Denver led in the first overtime 100-97 but a free throw by the Rockets’ Alston, with less than a minute to go sent the game into a second overtime.? Houston led 106-103 in overtime #2 before the Niggets’ Atkins hot a 3 with 1:32 remaining.? The Rockets’ Shane Battier gave his team a 109-108 lead with a 3-pointer with 35.3 seconds left; however, Denver’s Atkins?would hit an 18-footer with 20.1 seconds remaining.

Houston’s Yao Ming made 2 free throws with 4.5 seconds left in overtime, but the winning basket was made by the Nuggets’ Carter.? Denver was led by Carmelo Anthony with 37 points and 16 rebounds - the 16 rebounds a career high for Anthony.? Iverson poured in 36 himself with 5 rebounds and 9 assists.? It is amazing that Denver won at all only because other than Anthony and Iverson, the scoring by the bench was really lacking.

Houston was led by Ming with a solid effort, scoring?26 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists.? Head added 22, while Alston pitched in with 18 - along with 7 rebounds and 10 assists.? Denver (15-10) travels ot the Northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, while Houston (12-14) flies to Chicago to take on the Bulls Saturday.



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