Feb

25

Balanced Scoring Seals the Deal, Rockets Beat Trail Blazers 98-94

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest

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.


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