Rockets-Trail Blazers Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Nov 15 2012 11:26PM

The Portland Trail Blazers aren't getting much bench production and their defense has to get better, but they're hard to beat when they're hitting from 3-point range.

The Houston Rockets found that out earlier this month.

Portland will try to avoid a fourth consecutive home loss Friday night when the Rockets open a three-game western swing.

It's still early, but the Trail Blazers (3-5) have to be concerned with a bench that's averaging a league-low 12.8 points. Their defense also has plenty of room for improvement, as their opponents are shooting 49.4 percent from the field.

Portland, though, has three of the NBA leaders in 3s made with Nicolas Batum (22), rookie Damian Lillard (20) and Wesley Matthews (18). Led by Lillard, who had team highs with five 3s and 22 points, the Trail Blazers hit a season-best 14 from long range in 27 attempts in Tuesday's 103-86 win at Sacramento.

Portland shot 32.2 percent (28 for 87) from beyond the arc while dropping its previous four contests. Ten of the 3s during that slide came in Saturday's 112-109 loss to San Antonio.

"This is a team that can make 3s. They take a lot of 3s (23.0 per game)," Kings coach Keith Smart said. "If they're hot and making shots, you're going to have a tough cover."

The Rockets' perimeter defense was lacking in a 95-85 overtime home loss to Portland on Nov. 3. The Trail Blazers were 10 of 24 from beyond the arc in that contest, with Batum hitting four and Lillard and Matthews going a combined 5 of 13 to help Portland end a four-game skid in this series.

The Trail Blazers, losers of three straight at home to the Rockets, haven't dropped four in a row at the Rose Garden since Feb. 6-16.

Houston (4-4) makes its first trip to Portland this season after Wednesday's 100-96 win over New Orleans capped off its 2-1 homestand. The Rockets, though, know they need to put together a more complete effort during this trip after the Hornets outscored them by 15 in the final 24 minutes.

"We can't keep getting these double-digit leads in the first half and give them away," forward Chandler Parsons said. "We've got to come out there in the third quarter with energy and not allow that."

The Rockets didn't look very energetic in the third quarter on Nov. 3 when they were outscored 27-18 en route to a home-opening defeat.

James Harden, who scored 24 points in that loss, might be looking forward to getting away for a few days. The Houston newcomer is averaging 33.3 points on 51.6 shooting in three road games compared to 22.2 points on 38.9 percent from the field at home.

The Rockets' bench could also play a crucial role during this trip. Houston's reserves finished with 32 points on Wednesday, with Marcus Morris (13) and Toney Douglas (12) doing the most damage.

Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge did plenty of damage in Houston earlier this month, finishing with a team-high 27 points and 11 rebounds.

J.J. Hickson had 12 boards for Portland in that game while Rockets center Omer Asik grabbed 15. Asik (12.9) and Hickson (11.9) are among the NBA rebounding leaders.

Blazers outlast Rockets for 119-117 OT victory

Posted Nov 17 2012 2:28AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Two of Neil Olshey's biggest offseason moves are paying off in a big way for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Batum tied a career high with 35 points, Lillard sparked a late comeback and the Blazers beat the Houston Rockets 119-117 in overtime Friday night.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points for Portland, including a tiebreaking free throw and key turnaround jumper in the extra session. Lillard scored 16 of the Trail Blazers' last 21 points and finished with a career-high 27.

"He played great," Aldridge said of Lillard, the 6-foot-3 point guard who was the sixth overall pick in this year's draft out of Weber State. "He had ice in his veins. Took big shots, made big shots."

Olshey became Portland's general manager in June. He drafted Lillard and Illinois big man Meyers Leonard in the first round, then re-signed the talented but inconsistent Batum to a $44 million contract.

Batum is averaging 20.8 points and 6.3 rebounds and is shooting 48 percent from the field. Lillard is averaging 19.3 points, 6.4 assists and looks like a candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year.

James Harden had 29 points for the Rockets, who led by as many as 15 before falling behind in the final quarter. Chandler Parsons added 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Portland won its second consecutive game while narrowly avoiding a fourth straight loss at the Rose Garden.

"One thing that has been evident with our team is that we compete until the end," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "For a long stretch of the game it wasn't going how we wanted it, but when it mattered, we played pretty well."

Lillard made a tying 3-pointer with 3:25 left in overtime. After Omer Asik hit two foul shots for Houston, Lillard connected on another jumper to tie it at 116.

Houston committed a turnover on the other end and Aldridge went 1 for 2 at the line before making a turnaround jumper to extend the lead to 119-116 with 36.8 seconds left.

Harden made a free throw with 1.4 seconds to go but Houston couldn't corral his intentional miss, and the game ended.

"Sometimes you have to tip your hat and say, `Batum, those are great shots,' and `Lillard, those are great shots."' said Kelvin Sampson, who is coaching Houston while Kevin McHale is away from the team to tend to a personal matter.

The Rockets were kicking off a three-game West Coast road swing after going 2-1 at home despite some off-the-court distractions.

McHale has been away since Saturday. Royce White, a first-round draft pick, is feuding with the team over how it has accommodated his anxiety disorder, and is not with the team either.

The Blazers, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 103-86 victory over Sacramento on Wednesday, leaned heavily on Batum's outside shooting and Aldridge under the basket until Lillard took over with 4:29 left in regulation and Portland trailing 103-98. The 6-foot-3 point guard hit six free throws, a 3-pointer, a driving layup and then put the Blazers up 111-108 with a jumper after faking Jeremy Lin up in the air.

Marcus Morris then nailed a 3-pointer for Houston with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

The Blazers have struggled defensively all season, allowing 100 points or more in six of their first nine games. They entered having allowed opponents to shoot 49.6 percent.

Mindful of Portland's defensive deficiencies, the Rockets pushed the ball in transition. The Rockets had a 17-1 fast-break point advantage in the first half and they shot 55 percent before the break.

Houston led 51-35 in the first half and was up 13 in third quarter. But Batum scored 14 points in the period, including nine in a row.

"He had serious momentum going with him, and everything he was throwing up was going in," Parsons said. "If we look back at the film, that was pretty good `D.' That's just how it goes sometimes."

NOTES: Portland beat the Rockets 95-85 in overtime on Nov. 3 in Houston. Aldridge had 27 points and 11 rebounds in that game. ... Harden is averaging 32.3 points in four road games this season. . Batum had 35 points against San Antonio on Nov. 10. Originally credited with 33, he was later awarded a basket, which had been given to Wesley Matthews.

Notebook: Trail Blazers 119, Rockets 117 (OT)

Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:27 AM - Updated Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:27 AM

THE FACTS: Nicolas Batum tied his career high with 35 points and rookie Damian Lillard put up 18 of his season-high 27 points after intermission as Portland upended Houston 119-117 Friday night in overtime at the Rose Garden. It was the Blazers' second overtime win over the Rockets in two weeks. Portland prevailed 95-85 at Houston on Nov. 23. LaMarcus Aldridge tied his season high with 29 points for the Blazers (4-5), including a turnaround 10-footer with 37 seconds left in overtime that provided a 119-116 lead. James Harden led Houston (4-5) with 29 points.

QUOTABLE: "We make it interesting, but we've made it clear this year that we compete to the end. For long stretches of the game, it wasn't the way we wanted it. But when it mattered most, we played pretty well."

-- Portland coach Terry Stotts

THE STAT: Houston finished with a 24-11 advantage in fast-break points, but the Rockets had a 17-1 edge in the first half. There was a 24-1 differential four minutes into the second half. From that point on, for the final 25 minutes of the game, the Blazers outscored the visitors 8-0 in that category.

TURNING POINT: Houston led by 13 points late in the third quarter when Portland closed the quarter on a 14-2 run to get within one entering the final period.

QUOTABLE II: "We guarded them the way we wanted to guard them. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and say, 'Batum, those are great shots. Lillard, those are great shots.'"

--Houston interim coach Kelvin Sampson on Houston's defense against Batum and Lillard

HOT: Batum, especially in the third quarter, when he scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. And Lillard, who bombed in 11 points in the fourth quarter and another five in overtime.

NOT: Houston reserve point guard Toney Douglas, who played much of the fourth quarter and overtime in place of starter Jeremy Lin. Douglas was 2-for-11 from the field, including 0-for-5 on 3-point attempts.

GOOD MOVE: After Harden came up with the ball near midcourt with a couple of seconds remaining in overtime and Portland ahead 119-116, Wesley Matthews intentionally fouled Harden with 1.4 seconds left. Harden made the first gift shot but was forced to intentionally miss the second. The rebound bounced harmlessly away and the Blazers were triumphant.

BAD MOVE: Houston's Omer Asik, who had 15 points and 16 rebounds in 44 minutes, fouled Aldridge in the act of shooting with 1:21 left in overtime and the score tied 116-116. It was Asik's sixth foul and the Rockets couldn't afford to lose their 7-foot center. Moments later, Aldridge scored on a turnaround jumper over 6-foot-9 forward Patrick Patterson.

QUOTABLE III: "I make one shot, two shots, three shots, and I start to feel it a little bit. So I just keep shooting."

--Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, who finished 13-for-19 from the field, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range

NOTABLE: Three Blazers scored at least 27 points in a game for the first time since Nov. 14, 1997, when Isaiah Rider had 35 points, Brian Grant had 34 points and Arvydas Sabonis scored 31.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Sunday @ L.A. Lakers, Monday @ Utah, Wednesday vs. Chicago. For the Trail Blazers, Sunday vs. Chicago, Wednesday @ Phoenix, Friday vs. Minnesota.

• Rockets: Machado, Motiejunas, White
• Trail Blazers: Smith, Williams

• Rockets: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 14
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #27 Dick Bavetta, #9 Derrick Stafford, #76 Steven Anderson
• Attendance: 20382
• Duration: 2:40