Houston Rockets 104 Portland Trail Blazers 111-Recap

Dec 12, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets power forward Terrence Jones (6) fouls Portland Trail Blazers power forward Thomas Robinson (41) as Houston Rockets shooting guard Francisco Garcia (32) defends during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets 104 Portland Trail Blazers 111

The MVP chants for LaMarcus Aldridge doesn’t seem to be a stretch anymore. The former University of Texas standout scored 31 points and grabbed 25 rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers. to a big 111-104 win over the Rockets.

Wesley Matthews added 18 points, and Robin Lopez recorded a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Dwight Howard led the Rockets with 32 points and 17 rebounds, while James Harden added 25 points and 7 assists. Chandler Parsons scored 14 points, and Patrick Beverley finished with 9 points and 14 rebounds.

There were plenty of lead changes throughout the first 3 quarters, and the Rockets were able to tie the game at 76 going into the 4th quarter, after trailing by as much as 10 to start the 3rd quarter. After the Blazers started the 4th quarter going on a 10-0 run, the Rockets would answer, going on an 11-3 run themselves. Harden converted on a 3-point play, and Parsons made a 3 to bring the Rockets within 97-95.

Houston Rockets

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

42

14-22

0-1

4-6

5

12

17

1

2

3

1

2

+4

32

29

5-10

0-1

0-0

0

2

2

2

1

1

1

5

-26

10

38

6-18

2-4

0-0

2

3

5

2

0

0

0

3

-5

14

39

3-10

0-0

3-3

5

6

11

2

3

1

2

4

-15

9

42

8-18

2-5

7-9

0

6

6

7

1

0

3

2

+2

25

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

+2

0

16

2-6

0-2

2-2

1

2

3

0

0

1

0

3

+7

6

15

1-4

0-2

3-4

0

2

2

2

1

0

0

3

-1

5

19

1-6

1-5

0-0

2

0

2

0

3

0

1

1

-1

3

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Fast break points:   19Points in the paint:   66Total Team Turnovers (Points off turnovers):   8 (13)

Portland Trail Blazers

STARTERS

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

41

12-22

0-0

7-9

5

20

25

2

2

2

1

3

+16

31

38

5-11

2-6

3-4

2

4

6

6

0

2

4

1

+7

15

36

7-9

0-0

2-3

4

6

10

1

0

2

1

5

+5

16

34

1-10

1-4

5-5

0

0

0

6

0

1

2

2

+20

8

35

6-16

2-8

4-5

0

2

2

2

1

0

3

3

+3

18

BENCH

MIN

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

5

0-3

0-0

2-2

2

0

2

0

0

0

0

1

-6

2

13

2-6

2-6

0-0

1

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

+4

6

13

1-2

0-0

0-0

0

3

3

0

0

0

0

1

-1

2

24

5-10

1-3

2-2

1

1

2

4

1

0

2

4

-13

13

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FG

3PFG

FT

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

The Rockets wouldn’t get any closer for the rest of the game;  Nicolas Batum was left wide open in the left corner, and nailed a three to extend the lead to 102-95. Aldridge then converted on another 3-point play, stripped Terrence Jones as he was ready to go for a layup, which led to a Matthews 3-point play of his own.

The Rockets dominated in points in the paint, outscoring the Blazers 66-36, but shot just 25(5-20) percent from the 3-point line, and had just 16 assists as a team on 40 made field goals.