PORTLAND, Ore. — — Jalen Green had 27 points, including two dunks in the third quarter, and the Houston Rockets pulled away to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 123-107 on Friday night.
Fred VanVleet added 18 points and 10 assists for the Rockets, who had lost four of their previous six games and were coming off a 122-116 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points.
Dalano Banton scored a career-high 30 points for the Trail Blazers in their third straight loss.
Portland (17-45) led by 12 points, but Houston took the lead in the third quarter and extended its lead to 99-88 on Jock Landale’s 3-pointer with 8:45 to play. The Rockets (28-35) led by 18 points over the stretch.
The Blazers were without DeAndre Ayton, who missed his fifth straight game with a sprained right wrist. Rookies Scoot Henderson and Malcolm Brogdon have also been sidelined with long-term injuries.
Jerami Grant, who missed Monday’s game against Minnesota but returned Wednesday for Portland’s 128-120 loss to Oklahoma City, was out again because of right hamstring soreness. Jabari Walker sat out with a bruised right hip.
Toumani Camara, who missed Wednesday’s game due to illness, played for Portland.
“It’s frustrating,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “The good thing is we’re trying to grow. So that gives the young guys an opportunity to get a few minutes of play. But what happens is you lose so many opportunities for chemistry and synergy with the starters and you are the players that you count the most. So it’s kind of a double-edged sword.
The Blazers led by 11 points in the first quarter, but Jabari Smith Jr.’s three-pointer tied it at 42 for Houston in the second. The Rockets took the lead briefly before halftime, but Portland took a 63-55 lead into the break.
Portland made 12 3-pointers in the first half, but finished with 16.
Green followed a dramatic steal and dunk over Simons with a layup to bring the Rockets within 70-65. Green dunk again to cut the lead to 77-76 and Cam Whitmore’s basket gave the Rockets the lead.
Portland remained close, trailing by just 92-87 heading into the final period.
It was the second of four meetings between the two teams. The Blazers won the first one in January.
FOLLOWING
Rockets: At Sacramento Sunday night.
Trail Blazers: Host Toronto on Saturday night.
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