In perhaps the most competitive game on Tuesday’s NBA docket, the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers played a game of attrition for most of the night as their stats were very comparable, but in the end, Houston managed to hold off Portland in a close 98-94 win at Toyota Center.

Portland built an early lead after Houston’s Yao Ming missed a dunk and a layup; Portland’s Brandon Roy would score 9 points in the first seven minutes, prompting Rockets coach Rick Adelman to make some defensive adjustments.  Apparently they worked as Roy missed 3 straight shots while Houston went on a 23-6 run; Portland’s Rudy Fernandez missed a layup as time expired, giving the Rockets a 31-21 lead going into the second quarter.

Houston would expand their lead to 18, courtesy of their bench; reserve Von Wafer hit a 3-pointer and a jumper while Chuck Hayes got free for a pair of layups, allowing the Rockets to enjoy a 49-31 advantage.  Houston would take a sizable 60-43 lead going into halftime.  The Blazers’ Nicolas Batum sank a pair of 3′s  to trim their deficit to 11 early in the third quarter; Batum would dunk 2 minutes later to get Portland to within 9 going into the fourth quarter.

Houston appeared to have the game iced after Kyle Lowry’s layup with 8:31 remaining put them ahead 89-75; But a 3-point play and a jumper by LaMarcus Aldridge started a 13-3 run.  Travis Outlaw’s 3-pointer and driving layup reduced the Rockets’ lead to 91-88; Houston would miss 6 straight shots, but the Blazers couldn’t quite take advantage. 

Roy would score with 22 ticks left on the game clock to cut the Rockets’ lead to 92-90; however, Houston’s Aaron Brooks was fouled and he sank a pair of free throws to push their lead back to 4; Roy dunked with 17 seconds left to go, but Ron Artest hit a pair of free throws to finally put the game away for the Rockets.

Houston’s high scorer was Artest with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals while Brooks added 20 with 5 rebounds and 2 assists; Ming and Luis Scola pitched in 15 each – with Ming grabbing 8 rebounds, dished out an assist along with 3 blocked shots but committing 5 turnovers while Scola grabbed 11 boards, dished out 2 assists along with a steal and a blocked shot.

Portland was led by Roy with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while Aldridge added 21 with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocked shots; Outlaw poured in 15 with 3 rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot.  Houston (36-21) plays again on Thursday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers while Portland (35-21) makes the short trip to San Antonio to take on the Spurs on Wednesday.