When the Rockets offense was right, it was as strong as it had been against a strong defensive team as it had been all season.
For a few minutes, that did not seem enough.
A 17-point lead was reduced to three. The Nuggets were offering reminders of their second-half takeover in Denver when the Rockets had their lowest scoring game of the season. For all the Rockets had done to build the lead, they would have to do it again.
They didn’t. They were better. The Rockets dominated the fourth quarter, blowing out the Nuggets, 130-104, bringing in the New Year with the NBA’s best record in 2019.