NBA Daily Blog: Rockets lose a heartbreaker to the Nuggets, this time at home 102-105

 Arron Afflalo drives against Chandler Parsons and Samuel Dalembert

Photo ©NBA/Rockets.com

The Houston Rockets suffer from another defeat against the Denver Nuggets, this time it was more heartbreaking than the previous loss, it was played at home at the Toyota Center and they lost by only three points 102-105. The Rockets drop to 32-29, while the Nuggets improve to 34-27.

Chandler Parsons who missed the potential overtime-sending three pointer finished with 21 points and 3 steals. Goran Dragic also scored 21 points with 7 assists. Courtney Lee scored 18. Luis Scola finished with a double-double 14 points and 13 rebounds. Kyle Lowry scored 10 off the bench. Samuel Dalembert blocked 7 shots.

Arron Afflalo led the Nuggets with 26 points and 5 assists. Ty Lawson scored 25. Al Harrington added 15 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Danilo Gallinari and Corey Brewer each scored 11. Andre Miller dished out 13 assists.

In Toronto, the Atlanta Hawks get their revenge with a victory that clinches a playoff berth against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Center 109-87. Rookie Ivan Johnson off the bench led the Hawks with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jeff Teague finished with a double-double 19 points, 10 assists with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Joe Johnson scored 18. Marvin Williams scored 16. Josh Smith added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Tracy McGrady scored 11. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 22 points. James Johnson scored 16 off the bench. Rookie Alan Anderson scored 12. Ben Uzoh pulled down 10 rebounds with 8 assists.

In Charlotte, the New Orleans Hornets pick up the win against the Charlotte Bobcats who have lost their 17th consecutive game at the Time Warner Cable Arena 75-67. Greivis Vasquez led the Hornets with 20 points and 6 assists. Carl Landry off the bench added a double-double 14 points and 12 rebounds. Marco Belinelli scored 13. Gerald Henderson led the Bobcats with 27 points and 3 blocks. Kemba Walker scored 14. Byron Mullens pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked 4 shots.

In Orlando, the Orlando Magic get the win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Amway Center 113-100. Ryan Anderson led the Magic with a double double 26 points and 16 rebounds. J.J. Redick scored 18. Jason Richardson scored 17. Jameer Nelson also finished with a double-double 16 points and 13 assists. Earl Clark off the bench also came up with a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds. Quentin Richardson scored 13. Jrue Holiday led the 76ers with 18 points, 8 assists, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young each scored 15. Evan Turner scored 13 off the bench. Spencer Hawes added 10 points and 9 rebounds.

In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers solidify their hold on the 3rd seed as they defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves who have lost their 10th consecutive game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse 111-88. David West led the Pacers with a double-double 22 points and 10 rebounds. Danny Granger added 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Paul George added 18 points and 5 rebounds. Roy Hibbert also finished with a double-double 12 points and 11 rebounds with 5 blocks. George Hill scored 11. J.J. Barea led the Timberwolves with 14 points and 9 assists. Rookie Derrick Williams off the bench finished with a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Beasley also scored 13. Nikola Pekovic scored 10.

In Newark, the Miami Heat come from behind as the defeat the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center 101-98. The Heat who are playing without one of their Big 3 in Dwayne Wade were led by LeBron James with 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Chris Bosh finished with a double-double 22 points and 15 rebounds. The Nets who were playing without star Deron Williams were led by Kris Humphries with 29 points and 8 rebounds. Rookie MarShon Brooks added 24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Gerald Green scored 14. Sundiata Gaines added 11 points and 7 assists off the bench.

In Chicago, the Washington Wizards pull off an upset against the league leading Chicago Bulls at United Center 87-84. Kevin Seraphin led the Wizards with a double-double 21 points and 13 rebounds with 5 blocks. John Wall scored 16. Maurice Evans scored 14 off the bench. The Bulls who were playing without all-stars Derrick Rose and Luol Deng were led by Rip Hamilton with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. C.J. Watson added 17 points and 8 assists. Carlos Boozer finished with a double-double 16 points and 13 rebounds. Joakim Noah pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked 5 shots.

In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz win in a thrilling triple-overtime against the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at the EnergySolutions Arena 123-121. Al Jefferson led the Jazz with a double-double 28 points and 26 rebounds with 2 blocks. Gordon Hayward added 24 points and 5 assists. Devin Harris added 23 points and 7 assists. Paul Millsap added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. DeMarre Carroll added 15 points and 6 assists. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 40 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Jason Terry scored 27 off the bench. Vince Carter finished with a double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds. Delonte West scored 16. Jason Kidd added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

In Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns are still on the hunt for a playoff berth with a blowout win at the same time knocking off the Portland Trail Blazers out of playoff contention at the US Airways Center 125-107. Marcin Gortat led the Suns with a double-double 20 points and 10 rebounds. Channing Frye added 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Jared Dudley scored 18. Shannon Brown scored 16. Rookie Markieff Morris added 14 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. Sebastian Telfair scored 12. Steve Nash dished out 13 assists. Jamal Crawford off the bench and J.J. Hickson led the Trail Blazers with each scoring 22 points. Wesley Matthews scored 19. Luke Babbitt scored 18. Rookie Nolan Smith scored 14.

In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Clippers will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 after clinching a playoff berth with the win against the 2nd placed Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center 92-77. Nick Young off the bench led the Clippers with 19 points. Blake Griffin finished with a double-double 17 points and 11 rebounds with 6 assists and 4 blocks. Randy Foye scored 13. Chris Paul also finished with a double-double 12 points and 10 assists. Mo Williams scored 11. DeAndre Jordan pulled down 12 rebounds. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points. Serge Ibaka added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. James Harden scored 12 off the bench.

In Oakland, the San Antonio Spurs move into first place in the Western Conference with a win against the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena 120-99. Gary Neal off the bench led the Spurs with 17 points and 5 assists. Tiago Splitter added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Tim Duncan scored 13. Manu Ginobili scored 12. Danny Green scored 11. DeJuan Blair scored 10. Nate Robinson off the bench led the Warriors with 30 points and 7 assists. Rookie Klay Thompson scored 29. Dorell Wright added 17 points and 6 rebounds. Another rookie Jeremy Tyler finished with a double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds.

STANDINGS AS OF 4/17/12 (13:42 PHT)

WEST:

1. Spurs (sw) 43-16, 2. Thunder (nw) 44-17, 3. Lakers (x) 39-22, 4. Clippers (x) 38-23, 5. Grizzlies 35-25, 6. Nuggets 34-27, 7. Mavericks 34-28, 8. Suns 32-29, 9. Rockets 32-29, 10. Jazz 32-30, 11. Trail Blazers (o) 28-34, 12. Timberwolves (o) 25-37, 13. Warriors (o) 22-38, 14. Kings (o) 20-41, 15. Hornets (o) 19-42

EAST:

1. Bulls (c) 46-15, 2. Heat (se) 43-17, 3. Pacers (x) 39-22, 4. Celtics (x) 36-25, 5. Hawks (x) 36-25, 6. Magic (x) 36-25, 7. Knicks 31-29, 8. 76ers 31-29, 9. Bucks 29-31, 10. Pistons (o) 22-38, 11. Nets (o) 22-40, 12. Raptors (o) 22-40, 13. Cavaliers (o) 20-39, 14. Wizards (o) 15-46, 15. Bobcats (o) 7-53

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