PORTLAND, Ore. — Jalen Green erupted for 26 points as the Houston Rockets triumphed over the Portland Trail Blazers with a score of 125-103 on Saturday, marking the Blazers’ fifth consecutive defeat.
Alperen Sengun contributed significantly for the Rockets, recording 23 points along with 15 rebounds.
On the other side, Scoot Henderson shone off the bench for Portland, notching 21 points and providing 11 assists, while Toumani Camara pitched in 17 points.
Fred VanVleet made his return to the Rockets’ lineup after missing a previous game due to personal reasons, finishing with nine points after the team faced a narrow 132-127 loss against Sacramento, which halted their five-game winning streak.
Jerami Grant was back on the court for Portland after missing nine games due to a facial contusion, but he managed only seven points.
The Rockets initially seized a lead as large as nine points. However, the Blazers regrouped when Anfernee Simons hit a 3-pointer that nudged them ahead 31-29 in the second quarter. At halftime, the Rockets maintained a slim lead of 51-50.
Sengun sparked a momentum shift with a driving layup, initiating a remarkable 15-0 run, which saw the Rockets extend their lead to 70-56 during the third quarter.
Key takeaways from the game include the fact that Amen Thompson sat out with left calf soreness, while Sengun effectively netted six of the Rockets’ first ten points, and the team dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Blazers 61-40.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija remained sidelined with a right ankle sprain, and Deandre Ayton was absent due to lower back soreness. Nonetheless, Robert Williams III managed to block three shots during the contest.
A pivotal moment came in the third quarter when Green and Dillon Brooks hit consecutive 3-pointers, playing a crucial role in Houston’s surge. Although Anfernee Simons finally scored for Portland with a layup that interrupted the Rockets’ scoring spree, the team was unable to bounce back thereafter.
An impressive statistic from Sengun’s performance showed that he scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, finishing the game shooting an impressive 10 for 19 from the field.
Looking ahead, the Rockets will be preparing to host the Detroit Pistons on Monday, while the Trail Blazers are set to face the Chicago Bulls at home on Sunday.
