DENVER, April 16 (Ticker) -- There does not seem to be any tangible reason, but the Denver Nuggets are playing well at home.

James Posey scored 26 points as the Nuggets won their sixth straight home game with an easy 101-70 rout of the Houston Rockets, who were without several key players.

Despite the recent run, the Nuggets still finished with a losing record at home, going 20-21.

Denver closed the first half with a 19-4 run to grab a 45-27 halftime lead. The Nuggets held the Rockets to just one basket in the final 7:45 of the half.

NBA TV highlights from Rockets-Nuggets: 56k | 300k Calbert Cheaney was one of six Nuggets in double figures. William R. Sallaz NBAE/Getty Images

"We jumped on them early and never looked back," Denver coach Mike Evans said. "That was fun. The fans went away feeling pretty good about the team tonight."

The 27 first-half points allowed by Denver was a franchise record for the fewest points allowed in a half. The previous low was 28 by Seattle in the second half on Oct. 31, 1985.

The game was more notable for who was not on the floor than who actually played. Houston played without starters Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kevin Willis. Denver forward Juwan Howard missed his second straight game with a strained groin.

"We had enough bodies," Rockets guard Moochie Norris said. "We always have a problem with the altitude here. More than anything, it gave the young guys a chance to learn."

Denver placed six players in double figures as Donnell Harvey and Chris Andersen each netted 12 points. Rookie point guard Kenny Satterfield handed out a season-high 12 assists.

Houston shot just 31 percent (26-of-85) and committed 15 turnovers. The Rockets' effort was more suitable for a casual pickup game than an NBA contest as Denver held a 30-8 advantage in fast-break points.

"It was fun out there," Posey said. "We knew once they took a shot, they wouldn't run back on defense so we knew we would have the numbers. Tonight was a lot of layups and not that many jumpers."

With both teams short-handed, the biggest question was who each team had on the floor. Houston started Venezuelan rookie Oscar Torres and second-year forward Dan Langhi while Denver used luminaries such as Andersen and Carlos Arroyo.

Torres scored 18 points to lead the Rockets while rookie Terence Morris netted 14 off the bench. Besides Torres, Houston's starters managed just 17 points.