Nuggets blast Rockets in Popeye Jones’ head coaching debut

HOUSTON – It didn’t substance to Rayjon Tucker that helium met his caller Nuggets teammates Friday afternoon. When helium saw Facu Campazzo splayed connected the baseline aft taking a charge, Tucker bolted disconnected the seat to assistance his workfellow up.

Such is the authorities of the Nuggets, who contempt 4 coaches and 4 players successful the NBA’s wellness and information protocol, pounded the Rockets, 124-111, successful Popeye Jones’ caput coaching debut Saturday.

The longtime assistant, who joined the unit this season, filled successful for chap adjunct David Adelman, who had filled successful for Nuggets manager Michael Malone earlier him. The piecemeal Nuggets picked isolated the Rockets, who didn’t marque bully connected their New Year’s solution to defend.

Instead, led by a career-high 22 points and 12 assists from Campazzo, on with 24 points and 11 rebounds from Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets won their 3rd consecutive crippled with a travel to Dallas connected pat for Monday.

Tucker, who was 1 of 2 10-day hardship exceptions the Nuggets added successful the past day, offered his trademark defence to Jones’ winning outfit. The squad rejoiced erstwhile helium buried a 3-pointer, his lone basket, precocious successful the 4th quarter.

The different 10-day addition, Carlik Jones, lone joined the squad connected Saturday.

Aaron Gordon added 16 points and 7 boards, and Will Barton logged 12 points and six assists. The Nuggets blasted the Rockets inside, with a 62-42 vantage connected points successful the paint.

While the temper correlated with the Nuggets’ sizable margin, injured Nuggets Michael Porter Jr. and Markus Howard were besides successful Houston with the squad to bask the rout. Howard, who wounded his limb 2 weeks agone vs. Minnesota, adjacent got shots up earlier the game.

Saturday’s triumph was specified a feel-good effort for the Nuggets that adjacent reserve Bol Bol saw important rotation minutes. He had 11 points connected 5-of-7 shooting from the field.

Much to the chagrin of Denver’s depleted coaching staff, Jokic picked up his 4th foul little than 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter. It didn’t matter. At that point, the Nuggets had a comfy 85-60 pb and were cruising.

More specifically, they were playing for each other. When JaMychal Green recovered Austin Rivers connected a baseline chopped for a two-handed jam, the full seat stood successful unison. During a timeout lone moments later, Rivers walked to the seat with a grin, knowing however seldom those dunks had travel this season.

Even though quality broke connected Saturday afternoon, Jones got the duty connected Friday via Malone.

“He gave maine a telephone and said, ‘I got assurance successful you,’” Jones recalled. “’Be yourself. You’re a affirmative guy. You played. You cognize what you’re doing.’”

Devising the game-plan, predicated connected containing Houston’s guards and keeping them retired of the paint, was a collaborative effort among the coaches that were available, Jones said.

“Obviously you support (Malone) successful the loop connected everything that we’re doing and what we’re thinking, gameplan-wise, lineup-wise, and helium said, ‘You cognize what, I don’t privation to micromanage you,’” Jones said. “’You guys cognize what you’re doing.’”

After a bumpy commencement successful the archetypal quarter, the Nuggets discourtesy took disconnected down Campazzo, whose vigor and playmaking was infectious. Whether it was diving headfirst for a escaped shot connected defence oregon mowing down the lane connected offense, Campazzo’s imprints were everyplace arsenic the Nuggets assembled a 77-55 halftime lead.

Their 47-point second-quarter eruption was filled with highlights. On one, Campazzo threaded an assistance done a Houston defender’s legs en way to a Green dunk. On another, Campazzo shook Kevin Porter Jr. connected a behind-the-back dribble and past threw a 2nd behind-the-back walk to Gordon successful the paint. He had 13 points and 9 assists astatine halftime and was a plus-15, which was higher than immoderate starter.

His inspiring play overshadowed prime minutes from Jokic, Green, Bol and Vlatko Cancar, who each contributed without truthful galore cardinal players available.