This time he complemented it with 10 assists in Denver's 104-94 home win against the Houston Rockets, one of the better teams in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets are 12-6, tied for first in the Northwest Division, 11-3 since Billups entered the lineup.

The Nuggets won the game despite losing Carmelo Anthony with 2:13 left in the second quarter. The all-star has been bothered by a lingering elbow injury the past two weeks and had played through the pain.

But on Sunday, he didn't return to the court, nursing a right-elbow contusion. He logged just 13 minutes, scoring two points on 1-for-4 shooting.

He is listed as day to day. Denver's next game is Tuesday at the Pepsi Center against Toronto.

The Rockets played without all-star Tracy McGrady (left knee) and Shane Battier (left foot), a combined 25.6 points per game.

Denver's lead was 10 entering the final quarter, then cut to five at the 7:28 mark, but by 5:08, thanks to a Nene dunk, Denver was leading by 11.

After a sparkling 32-point performance on Thanksgiving, J.R. Smith played just seven minutes Saturday, logging two fouls, a turnover and nary a point.

Asked before Sunday's game why Smith didn't play much, Karl said, "I'll let you interpret that."

On Sunday, Smith played 29 minutes, scoring 19 points, the most of Denver's bench.

Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com

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Nuggets 104, Rockets 94

....FG....FT....Reb

HOUSTONMin....M-A....M-A....O-T....A....F....Pt Artest37:28....5-18....0-0....2-5....3....2....13

Scola24:35....3-5....1-2....0-5....1....2....7

Yao31:12....5-12....8-9....3-11....0....3....18

Alston35:50....3-10....7-8....1-3....6....1....16

Head27:34....1-7....0-0....0-4....4....1....3

Hayes16:48....1-3....0-0....2-3....1....3....2

Wafer19:23....3-6....0-0....1-1....1....1....6

Landry23:09....5-7....4-4....1-3....2....2....14

Brooks24:00....5-8....2-3....0-3....4....2....15

Totals239:59....31-76....22-26....10-38....22....17....94

Percentages: FG .408, FT .846. 3-point goals: 10-20, .500 (Alston 3-5, Brooks 3-5, Artest 3-6, Head 1-3, Wafer 0-1). Team rebounds: 10. Team turnovers: 18 (22 points). Blocked shots: 6 (Yao 3, Alston, Hayes, Head). Turnovers: 15 (Artest 3, Yao 3, Alston 2, Scola 2, Wafer 2, Brooks, Hayes, Head). Steals: 9 (Alston 3, Artest 2, Hayes 2, Head, Landry). Technical fouls: Brooks, 9:08 second; Defensive three second, 2:41 third.

....FG....FT....Reb

DENVERMin....M-A....M-A....O-T....A....F....Pt Anthony13:44....1-4....0-0....0-3....3....2....2

Martin33:38....7-12....0-0....0-4....3....3....15

Nene35:19....7-13....3-3....5-10....1....5....17

Billups40:23....9-18....6-7....0-4....10....2....28

Jones23:46....2-4....4-4....1-2....1....3....8

Smith29:46....6-14....2-2....0-5....4....2....19

Andersen21:38....1-4....2-4....2-6....0....1....4

Kleiza16:23....3-5....1-2....2-3....2....0....8

Carter25:07....1-3....1-2....1-5....4....3....3

Balkman0:16....0-0....0-0....0-0....0....0....0

Totals240:00....37-77....19-24....11-42....28....21....104

Percentages: FG .481, FT .792. 3-point goals: 11-23, .478 (Smith 5-9, Billups 4-9, Kleiza 1-1, Martin 1-2, Anthony 0-1, Carter 0-1). Team rebounds: 4. Team turnovers: 14 (8 points). Blocked shots: 14 (Andersen 5, Martin 4, Jones 2, Anthony, Balkman, Carter). Turnovers: 14 (Billups 3, Andersen 2, Anthony 2, Carter 2, Martin 2, Smith 2, Kleiza). Steals: 6 (Andersen 2, Billups 2, Nene, Jones). Technical fouls: Nene, 2:09 fourth.

Houston21....23....24....26....-....94

Denver21....27....30....26....-....104

A - 17,201 (19,155). T - 2:10. Officials - Tony Brown, Tony Brothers, Eddie F. Rush.

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NuggetsRecap

What you might have missed

With 2:09 left in the fourth and Denver leading by nine, center Nene was called for a technical foul. ? In there for his defense, guard Dahntay Jones scored eight points for the second-straight night. ? Nene played tough defense against Yao Ming and notched a double-double - 17 points, 10 rebounds.

Final thought

This was one of Denver's best wins of the season and arguably its best home win, defeating a talented team with a sturdy low-post.

Up next

vs. Toronto, 7 p.m. Tuesday

Benjamin Hochman,

The Denver Post