Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Al Harrington notched 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench and Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points, as the Nuggets pulled away late for a 107-94 victory in Houston's home opener.
Nene ended with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Chauncey Billups netted 13 points for Denver, which was coming off a loss at New Orleans on Friday.
Luis Scola put up 28 points and 10 boards, and Kevin Martin added 21 points in a losing cause, as the Rockets fell to 0-3 for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign, when they lost their first five games.
Houston cut its deficit to 90-89 on Scola's hook shot with 5 1/2 minutes to go, but Denver scored 17 of the final 22 points to come away victorious, as Billups jump-started the final flurry with a three-pointer and two free throws.
Aaron Brooks nailed a three to pull within 100-94 with 1:29 remaining, but Harrington answered with a make from long range at the other end. Yao Ming followed with a miss, and the Nuggets sealed it at the foul line.
Houston led 27-24 after the first quarter and maintained a three-point edge, 51-48, at halftime.
J.R. Smith ended the third quarter with a three-pointer to break at 69-all tie, and Denver used an 11-point burst early in the fourth -- capped by a Harrington three-ball -- to jump in front, 85-76, with 9 1/2 minutes left.
The Nuggets had lost five of six trips to the Toyota Center...Smith and Arron Afflalo each scored 10 points for the Nuggets, who forced 19 turnovers to make up for a 37.8-percent shooting effort...Yao finished with 14 points and six boards.