Jalen Green totaled 26 points and nine rebounds for the visiting Houston Rockets, who took control in the second quarter and recorded a 116-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Green made 10 of 20 shots after being limited to 19 minutes and three points in Houston’s three-point loss at Utah on Thursday. He helped the Rockets prevail for just the second time in eight games following an 11-game winning streak and gave Houston (40-41) a chance at clinching a .500 record in the season finale on Sunday.
The Rockets close on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Green also withstood a scary collision with about two minutes left in the third quarter when Portland’s Moses Brown fell on the guard’s left leg.
Jock Landale added 20 points for the Rockets, who shot 47.8 percent and withstood Fred VanVleet’s absence due to a bruised right hip. Houston’s Aaron Holliday added 18 points while Amen Thompson contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Rookie Scoot Henderson scored 30 points but sat for the final 8 1/2 minutes as Portland (21-60) reached 60 losses for the fourth time in team history and the first time since 2005-06.
Dalano Banton added 28 points but shot only 9-for-26 from the field as the Trail Blazers lost for the 14th time in 16 games. Portland also lost DeAndre Ayton to a sore back in the third quarter after the center scored six points.
Kris Murray and Duop Reath added 10 points apiece for the Blazers, who shot 38.9 percent and ended their home schedule with seven straight losses. Portland has dropped four in a row overall.
After facing an early eight-point deficit, the Rockets gradually seized control in the second quarter. Green’s 3-pointer gave Houston a 50-35 lead with 3:43 left, and the Rockets held a 54-40 edge by halftime.
Houston held a 106-91 lead following two Landale free throws with 5:42 left, and the Blazers trailed 109-99 following a dunk by Murray nearly two minutes later. Portland answered with a Landale jumper and then a Green 3-pointer to stretch the gap to 114-99 with 2:13 left.
–Field Level Media