In a game that could be a playoff preview, the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Houston Rockets 105-100 on Wednesday night. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with a double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds. The victory gives Portland the 2-1 regular-season series win against Houston, the first series win for them since the 2010-11 season.
One of the key parts of this game for Portland was the fact that they held James Harden to just 18 points, including 4 points in the second half. Harden is the second leading scorer in the league at just over 27 points per game, and scored over 40 points in each of the last 2 meetings with the Trail Blazers.
Corey Brewer led the way for the Rockets with 23 points, and nearly got Houston back into the game with 17 fourth-quarter points. All 17 of those points came in the final few minutes of the game, and Brewer missed a potential game-tying 3 in the final seconds.
Robin Lopez added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for Portand, while Nicolas Batum contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds. Portland is now tied atop the Western Conference with 27 home wins.
The Rockets trailed by as many 11 points in the 4th quarter, but they pulled within 4 with 2:13 to go. Portland was coming off a tough 121-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and was playing just their second game without Wesley Matthews, who ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Matthews underwent surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.
Damian Lillard sunk a 3-pointer in the first half to help cut in to the Rockets' 7-point lead. Lillard's three gave him 150 3-pointers, becoming the only player to make 150 three-pointers in each of his first 3 NBA seasons.
The Trail Blazers improved to 42-20 on the season and will host the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night. The Rockets fell to 43-21 on the year and will visit the Utah Jazz tonight.
One of the key parts of this game for Portland was the fact that they held James Harden to just 18 points, including 4 points in the second half. Harden is the second leading scorer in the league at just over 27 points per game, and scored over 40 points in each of the last 2 meetings with the Trail Blazers.
Corey Brewer led the way for the Rockets with 23 points, and nearly got Houston back into the game with 17 fourth-quarter points. All 17 of those points came in the final few minutes of the game, and Brewer missed a potential game-tying 3 in the final seconds.
Robin Lopez added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for Portand, while Nicolas Batum contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds. Portland is now tied atop the Western Conference with 27 home wins.
The Rockets trailed by as many 11 points in the 4th quarter, but they pulled within 4 with 2:13 to go. Portland was coming off a tough 121-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and was playing just their second game without Wesley Matthews, who ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Matthews underwent surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.
Damian Lillard sunk a 3-pointer in the first half to help cut in to the Rockets' 7-point lead. Lillard's three gave him 150 3-pointers, becoming the only player to make 150 three-pointers in each of his first 3 NBA seasons.
The Trail Blazers improved to 42-20 on the season and will host the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night. The Rockets fell to 43-21 on the year and will visit the Utah Jazz tonight.
