DENVER ? Maybe the change in the starting lineup ignited the Denver Nuggets. A new-found shooting touch had to help.

Whatever lit the fuse, the Nuggets exploded Friday night for a 108-81 win over the Houston Rockets, ending a four-game losing streak by gaining their first home win of the season at the Pepsi Center.

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J.R. Rider, given his first start of the season because James Posey took ill, poured in 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a stellar performance. Backcourt teammate Nick Van Exel matched Rider's 28 points.

That combination proved too potent for the Rockets, whose own backcourt tandem of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley managed only 10 points between them on 2-for-15 shooting after coming into the game averaging a combined 40.8 points per game (21.3 for Francis, 19.5 for Mobley).