(Field level media) Jalen Green scored 27 points, including 12 in a decisive third quarter, to help the Houston Rockets overcome a slow start and defeat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 110-92 yesterday.
The Rockets (36-35) extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 11-1 in March. Houston worked on offense until Green sparked a 25-4 run that turned a nine-point deficit into an 80-68 lead after an Aaron Holiday 3-pointer with 46.9 seconds left in the third .
After Portland (19-53) pulled within seven points with five minutes remaining in the fourth, Fred VanVleet (15 points) made two timely 3-pointers down the stretch to keep the Trail Blazers within distance.
Green and VanVleet combined for 75 points and 17 3-pointers against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. They shot a combined 14 of 44 against Portland, including 6 of 20 from behind the arc.
Jock Landale had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets while rookie Amen Thompson added 12 points and nine rebounds. Holiday totaled 11 points coming off the bench, and Dillon Brooks also had 11.
Dalano Banton led the Trail Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Scoot Henderson added 15 points while Toumani Camara had 12 points and five rebounds as Portland suffered its seventh straight loss.
Behind Landale, who scored 15 points in the first quarter on 5-for-5 shooting, the Rockets erased a nine-point deficit in the first half and led 28-25 entering the second.
Starting five rookies for a second straight game, the Trail Blazers’ streamlined offensive approach gave Houston fits. Portland attacked the rim with impunity and great success en route to a 45-36 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Trail Blazers led 51-47 at the break thanks to 36 paint points and 26 from their reserves. Green and VanVleet shot a combined 4 of 23 from the floor before the break and combined for 10 points, making the Rockets’ four-point intermission deficit somewhat fortuitous.
