Associated Press
Danilo Gallinari had 27 points, Will Barton scored a career-high 26 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 107-98 on Friday night to spoil the return of Ty Lawson.
Kenneth Faried added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Denver.
The Nuggets have won the first two games of the season series with the Rockets. They won the season opener, 105-85, in Houston on Oct. 28
The home crowd didn't give Lawson a warm reception despite his mostly productive six years with the Nuggets. Lawson helped Denver reach the playoffs four straight seasons and win a franchise-best 57 games in 2012-13 before a disappointing first-round exit against Golden State. Trouble off the court, including multiple arrests, soured his reputation with the fans and preceded him being dealt to Houston in the summer.
James Harden led the Rockets with 28 points. Terrence Jones added 23 off the bench and Dwight Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Rockets have lost two straight.
Lawson was hoping for a happy return, but the Nuggets did enough to hold off the Rockets. Barton hit two 3-pointers after Houston had made it 87-86 on Harden's three-point play.
Jason Terry answered with a 3-pointer, but Jameer Nelson's jumper gave the Nuggets a 95-89 lead with 6:22 left. Gallinari's 3-pointer with 2:12 left made it 104-91.
The Rockets shot 25 free throws in the first half but just six in the second. They had one attempt in the fourth quarter.