Jalen Green scored 27 points, including 12 during a decisive third-quarter run, to help the Houston Rockets overcome a sluggish start and defeat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 110-92 on Monday.
The Rockets (36-35) extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 11-1 in March. Houston labored on offense until Green ignited a 25-4 run that turned a nine-point deficit into an 80-68 lead following an Aaron Holiday 3-pointer with 46.9 seconds left in the third.
After Portland (19-53) closed to within seven points with five minutes left in the fourth, Fred VanVleet (15 points) drained a pair of timely 3-pointers down the stretch to keep the Trail Blazers at bay.
Green and VanVleet combined for 75 points and 17 3-pointers against the Utah Jazz on Saturday. They shot a combined 14-for-44 against Portland, including 6-for-20 from behind the arc.
Jock Landale posted 17 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets while rookie Amen Thompson added 12 points and nine boards. Holiday totaled 11 points off the bench, and Dillon Brooks also had 11.
Dalano Banton paced the Trail Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Scoot Henderson added 15 points while Toumani Camara chipped in 12 points and five boards as Portland took its seventh loss in a row.
Behind Landale, who scored 15 first-quarter points on 5-for-5 shooting, the Rockets erased a nine-point deficit in the opening period and led 28-25 entering the second.
Starting five rookies for a second consecutive game, the Trail Blazers’ simplified 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 courtesy of 36 paint points and 26 from their reserves. Green and VanVleet shot a combined 4-for-23 from the floor before the break and totaled 10 points, making the Rockets’ four-point deficit at the intermission somewhat fortuitous.
–Field Level Media