As the season nears its end following a disappointing defeat to the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets faced another opportunity for a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was uncertain which Rockets team would appear, but fortunately, they were on form.
Jalen Green led the charge with 26 points and Jock Landale added a surprising 20 points, helping the Rockets secure a 116-107 victory over Portland. With Fred VanVleet out, Green stepped up, shooting 10-for-20 and grabbing 9 rebounds, including making half of his 10 three-point attempts.
Amen Thompson also made a significant contribution with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Aaron Holiday and Cam Whitmore provided 18 and 11 points off the bench, respectively. The Rockets’ defense was effective, limiting Portland to 39 percent field goal shooting and maintaining a lead as large as 20 points, although the Blazers managed to close the gap somewhat.
For Portland, Scoot Henderson scored 30 points and Dalano Banton contributed 28 points from the bench.
The Rockets now stand at 40-41 for the season and look forward to their final game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. A win would bring them to a .500 season finish. Regardless of the outcome, the Rockets have had a noteworthy season, achieving the largest win increase in the NBA.
Looking forward to concluding the season this Sunday.
