 |
|
|
04.30.09 TRAIL BLAZERS (4) VS. ROCKETS (5)
|
The Portland Trail Blazers survived their first elimination game Tuesday night, beating the Houston Rockets 88-77 to win for their second game of the series. But that was at the Rose Garden, where the Trail Blazers have been next to unbeatable this season. In order to keep their postseason alive, they’ll have to do something they haven’t done since 2007: Beat the Rockets at the Toyota Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Trail Blazers, down 3-2 in their first round series, are coming off their most convincing win of the postseason. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, who were listed as probably for Tuesday’s game due to flu-like symptoms and a sore elbow, respectively, scored 25 points apiece to lead Portland to victory.
The Trail Blazers used a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to turn a four-point deficit into an 11-point lead, handing the Rockets their ninth postseason road game loss in their last 11 tries.
“Guys played like this was a game we had to have,” said Aldridge. “I think everybody stepped up (in Game 5). Rudy made big shots, everybody came to play (Tuesday night), and that gave Brandon time to feel better and once he got his rhythm, and he felt better, then he came through in the fourth quarter like he always does.”
But now the series turns back to Houston, where the Trail Blazers have had little success as of late. Portland has lost 12 of their last 13 games at the Toyota Center.
We haven’t thought about (having lost 12 of 13 in Houston) at all,” said Aldridge. “This is a different time; this is the playoffs. You could lose three straight during the season or two straight and come here and win a big game. That doesn’t really matter to us.”
The Trail Blazers will have to buck ancient history and win their first road playoff game of the 2009 postseason if they’re to send the series back to Portland for a decisive Game 7.
“They need just one more game,” said Nate McMillan of the Rockets. “For us, its still a one-game season. They need only one and we need two. I know its different buildings and homecourt advantages and all that, but so far we haven’t won there and they’ve won here so the pressure is still on us.”
While Portland’s history in Houston hasn’t been great, their luck in Game 6’s has been. The Trail Blazers have won Game 6 in their last three series of six or more games, with their last two wins in Game 6’s forcing a decisive Game 7. The Trail Blazers last lost a Game 6 on June 14, 1992, falling four games to two to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.
The Trail Blazer have come close to stealing back homecourt advantage in the previous playoff games in Houston, losing games 4 and 5 by a total of four points.
“We felt like we came really close the last two times we were in this building,” said Roy, “so hopefully this time is the one we need. Our backs are against the wall, but I think guys are loose and ready to go out there and play hard and hopefully win this game.”
Thursday night’s game can be seen locally in HD on KGW Channel 8 starting at 6:30 p.m. with Mike Barrett and Mike Rice. Thursday’s matchup with also be shown nationally on TNT. Brian Wheeler and Antonio Harvey will have the radio call on 95.5 The Game and on all the stations of the Trail Blazers Radio Network.
|
|
|
