Typically, the Denver Rockets main source of offense is Carmelo Anthony; there was a change of plans on Sunday when the Houston Rockets came to take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.  Anthony did play for a while until he had to leave the game in the second quarter because he reaggravated an elbow injury he has been dealing with the past couple weeks.  As it turned out, the Nuggets had a Plan B as Chauncey Billups manned up as he scored 11 of his 28 points in a pivotal third period, leading Denver to a 104-94 win over Houston.

Neither team shot especially well during the first half yet the Nuggets managed to take a 48-44 lead into their locker room at halftime; during the third quarter, Billups sank a pair of free throws that would give Denver a sizable 72-58 advantage; they would go into the final quarter with a 78-68 lead.  But the Rockets would chip away and get to within 89-84 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the game on a pair of baskets by Carl Landry; however, Denver’s Chris Andersen would end that run with a pair of free throws and a basket by Nene – which would make it a 97-86 cushion for the Nuggets.  The Rockets would get no closer.

Denver’s high scorer was Billups with 28 points (including 4 three-pointers), 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals while J.R. Smith from off the bench added 19 (including 5 treys) with 5 rebounds and 4 assists; Nene pitched in, scoring 17 with 10 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Kenyon Martin poured in 15 with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocked shots.

Houston was led by Yao Ming with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots while Rafer Alston added 16 (along with 3 treys) with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot while Aaron Brooks pitched in, scoring 15 (including 3 treys) with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.  Denver (12-6) plays again on Tuesday when they host the Toronto Raptors while Houston (11-7) returns home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.