When the Nuggets’ starting lineup was introduced Wednesday night, the gravel-voiced public address announcer at Ball Arena screeched: “He’s back!”
Taking his cue, guard Jamal Murray, who missed 11 games because of a strained left hamstring, pumped his fist into the air as the fans serenaded him with cheers.
And while Murray was the main attraction in Denver’s 134-124 cruiser over Houston, it was Michael Porter Jr. who hogged the spotlight.
Porter was sensational, especially in the first half as the Nuggets took a 76-59 lead into the locker room. He scored 23 points, making 8 of 10 shots and draining 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range. Porter finished with 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting (7 for 12 on 3-pointers) and added 10 rebounds and five assists.
“He was shooting into a big basket,” coach Michael Malone said. “And also, he was playing the game the right way. A lot of times when guys are shooting into a big basket, they get kind of crazy and start taking some wild shots.
“I thought, for the most part, he made the right basketball plays for us. I thought he was outstanding across the board for us tonight.”
Porter said he was “getting a lot of good looks,” adding that he was able to slip behind some screens for some open shots.
Led by 12 points from Porter, the Nuggets scored a season-high 41 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 19 in the period.
When the Rockets whittled Denver’s lead to 103-93 late in the third quarter, it was Porter who answered with an off-balance 3-pointer from the top of the key to snuff out the Rockets’ rally.
As Porter noted, no one received a defensive player of the game chain because the Nuggets’ defense was porous, especially in the third quarter when the Rockies scored 38 points.
“It was a great outcome, not a great win,” Malone said. “Our defense left a lot to be desired, especially in the third quarter.”
Denver center Nikola Jokic, who missed the last game with lower back soreness, did what he usually does. He put up a triple-double with a game-high 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. It was his seventh triple-double of the season.
The Nuggets’ offense was in high gear most of the night, finishing with 37 assists and committing only four turnovers.
“That’s about being unselfish, especially at home,” Murray said. “But we have to be able to do that on the road.”
The Nuggets improved to 9-0 at home, and have won three in a row since struggling through a five-game road trip with a 1-4 record.
Although Murray looked a bit rusty out of the gate, he did manage to throw in a desperation 37-footer as the shot clock expired early in the game. He allowed himself a wry smile.
Moments later, Murray pulled up lame after making an awkward drive in the lane, appearing to have turned his right ankle. He left the game and made a trip to the locker room before returning. While he was on the bench, Murray iced his ankle throughout the game.
“Frustrated,” Murray said when asked about the ankle injury that he said might keep him out of the Nuggets’ next game on Friday at Phoenix.
The guard played 22 minutes, scoring 16 points, even though he shot just 29% (4 of 14) from the floor. Murray added six assists and six rebounds and the two-man game he plays with Jokic was in sync when they shared the floor.
“I wouldn’t be out there if I wasn’t comfortable,” Murray said. “The hamstring is good, it’s fine. I’ve worked it enough to get it back to strength.”
The defending NBA champions sprinted out to a 6-1 record to start the season with Murray in the lineup but went just 6-5 without him. And Murray struggled with his shot in Denver’s first seven games, averaging 16.3 points on 43.3% shooting. However, he was averaging a career-best 7.4 assists per game.
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