A tough loss to a good team
posted: Thursday, April 03, 2008 at 9:51 PM
The Trail Blazers lost to the Rockets tonight 95-86.
In a game full of runs by both teams, Tracy McGrady took over to score 26 of his 35 points in the second half.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 23 points. Jarrett Jack scored 19 points. Travis Outlaw had 14 points and six rebounds, while Channing Frye and Steve Blake each scored 12 points. Joel Przybilla led all players with 15 rebounds.
This loss drops the Trail Blazers to 38-38 on the season. They will need a strong finish if they want to finish above .500 this season.
McGrady making a comeback difficult
posted: at 9:51 PM
Tracy McGrady is making it very hard for the Trail Blazers to get back in this game. He has nine of Houston's 11 points in the fourth quarter, as they have maintained their 11 point lead over the Trail Blazers. The score is 85-74 with 5:36 remaining.
Channing at the line again
posted: at 9:44 PM
Channing Frye now has 12 points, six coming in this fourth quarter. The Trail Blazers are down by nine points. They've played well, but Tracy McGrady is on fire with seven points in the quarter.
Slow start to the quarter
posted: at 9:41 PM
After three minutes of the fourth quarter, the only points are a Jarrett Jack three-pointer. The Rockets lead the Trail Blazers 74-66 with 8:58 remaining in the final period.
Bad sign...
posted: at 9:40 PM
The Rockets are 17-0 when leading at the end of three quarters on the road this season... let's see if the Trail Blazers can break that trend.
End of the third quarter
posted: at 9:34 PM
Tracy McGrady's last-second tip in capped an 11-0 run by the Rockets to close the third quarter. The Trail Blazers went on an impressive run to take their first lead since the opening quarter, but the Rockets took over at the end of the quarter. McGrady scored 14 points in the quarter.
LaMarcus Aldridge leads the Trail Blazers with 19 points. Travis Outlaw and Jarrett Jack each have 12 points. Joel Przybilla leads with 13 rebounds.
The Trail Blazers will need another big run to get back in this game. As we know, anything can happen with a shift in momentum, so let's see if LA, TO and the rest of the Trail Blazers can get back in this one.
Rockets running
posted: at 9:29 PM
The Rockets have scored the last nine points and now lead 72-63. A terrific start to the quarter for the Trail Blazers, but a poor finish.
T-Mac to the Rockets' rescue
posted: at 9:27 PM
Tracy McGrady has scored the last five points for the Rockets and the game is tied 63-63 with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter.
What a run
posted: at 9:23 PM
The Trail Blazers have taken the lead by starting the second half with a 16-6 run. Add that to the 9-2 run that capped of the first half and the Trail Blazers are on a 25-8 run since the 2:38 mark of the second quarter.
Joel v. Dikembe
posted: at 9:18 PM
Joel Przybilla and Dikembe Mutombo have traded shots over the last few minutes. A few minutes after Przybilla was knocked down by a Mutombo elbow, he retaliated and was called for a technical. Minutes later, Przybilla rejected a Mutombo shot, leading to a fast break and a Jarrett Jack layup and foul. Jack's free throw gives the Trail Blazers a 59-58 lead, their first lead since the first quarter.
LaMarcus drop stepping...
posted: at 9:14 PM
LaMarcus just worked the drop step move to perfection over Carl Landry. He now has 17 points to lead all scorers.
Good start to the half
posted: at 8:53 PM
Jarrett Jack hit a shot, Travis Outlaw made a three and Steve Blake hit a jumper... the Trail Blazers have started the second half on a 7-0 run. The score is now 52-50 Rockets lead.
End of the first half
posted: at 8:47 PM
The Rockets took a commanding lead after a 14-4 run, but the Trail Blazers clawed their way back with a 9-2 run of their own to end the half. The score is now 52-43 in favor of the Rockets.
LaMarcus Aldridge leads the Trail Blazers with 15 points. Joel Przybilla has nine rebounds. Travis Outlaw has seven points and two blocked shots.
Dikembe Mutombo leads the Rockets with 10 points and has two blocks. Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier and Luther Head each have nine points. The Rockets have made 7-of-13 from beyond the arc so far.
The Trail Blazers finished the first half with the momentum in their favor, so let's see if it carries over to the third quarter.
7-0 run!
posted: at 8:45 PM
A LaMarcus jumper capped a 7-0 Trail Blazer run to bring the score to 50-41!
LA throws one down
posted: at 8:43 PM
Travis and LaMarcus worked the pick-and-roll to perfection and LaMarcus finished with a big two-handed dunk.
Update: A three-pointer by Jarrett Jack brings the score to 50-39.
Broken open
posted: at 8:41 PM
The Rockets have taken control of this game. The score is now 50-34 with 2:32 remaining in the first half.
LaMarcus Aldridge has 11 points to lead the Trail Blazers.
Dikembe Mutombo leads the Rockets with 10 points and Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier each have nine.
TO back in to guard T-Mac
posted: at 8:38 PM
As soon as Tracy McGrady stood up off the Rockets bench to check back in the game, Travis Outlaw stood up off the Trail Blazers bench to do the same. Outlaw has done a solid job of defending McGrady so far.
Cold...
posted: at 8:31 PM
The Trail Blazers are shooting just 34% from the field and have not made a three-pointer yet. They do, however, have 11 second-chance points off of six offensive rebounds.
Slipping away?
posted: at 8:30 PM
The Trail Blazers need to pick up the pace if they're going to stay in this game. The Rockets now lead by seven after a three by rookie point guard (and U of O alum) Aaron Brooks.
Channing Frye's four points this quarter are the only points by the Trail Blazers in the first four minutes of the second.
Channing on the board
posted: at 8:20 PM
After the Rockets scored the first five points of the second quarter, Channing hit a deep jumper to bring the score to 28-25.
UPDATE: Two free throws by Channing make the score 30-26.
What a play!
posted: at 8:10 PM
Off of a missed TO jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining, LaMarcus caught the rebound, made a bank shot, and was fouled! He made the free throw and the first quarter ends with the Trail Blazers down 23-22 to the Rockets.
LaMarcus leads all players with nine points. Steve Blake has four points, four rebounds and three assists.
Subs pick up the pace
posted: at 8:09 PM
With both teams bringing in reserves, the pace of the game has gotten noticeably faster. The Rockets lead 22-19 with 1:20 remaining in the quarter.
Huge block by TO
posted: at 8:07 PM
As Tracy McGrady came across the lane for a runner, so came Travis Outlaw for a rejection. Outlaw's block led to a fast break that ended in two Steve Blake free throws, giving the Trail Blazers a 15-14 lead.
LaMarcus again
posted: at 8:06 PM
After going scoreless for the first half of the quarter, LaMarcus now has back-to-back baskets and has tied the game at 13-13.
LaMarcus in the lane
posted: at 8:04 PM
LaMarcus took it right over Scola for a basket to bring the score to a 13-11 Rockets lead.
Martell Webster update
posted: at 8:02 PM
From the Trail Blazers injury report: Martell Webster has flu-like symptoms and dizziness and has been sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. He will not play tonight.
Let's hope Martell is alright and that the Trail Blazers can pull out a victory for their ailing teammate.
Another bucket for TO
posted: at 7:58 PM
LaMarcus found Travis out on the break for a baseline jumper and the Trail Blazers have cut the Rockets lead to 8-7.
Update: the Trail Blazers are down 10-9 after a Steve Blake basket. Shane Battier has 6 points for the Rockets.
Good start for TO
posted: at 7:55 PM
Travis has started strong and now has three points after a signature floating jumper. The Trail Blazers are down 8-5 with 8:22 to play in the first.
Przybilla's paint
posted: at 7:52 PM
Joel out-muscled Mutombo to tip in a LaMarcus miss for the Trail Blazers' first points of the game. Portland trails 6-2.
Starting lineups
posted: at 7:39 PM
The Trail Blazers will start Travis Outlaw (SF), LaMarcus Aldridge (PF), Joel Przybilla (C), Jarrett Jack (SG) and Steve Blake (PG).
The Rockets will start Shane Battier (SF), Luis Scola (PF), Dikembe Mutombo (C), Tracy McGrady (SG) and Bobby Jackson (PG).
It's almost game time, so get ready for a clash between two teams that are sure to get familiar with each other over the next few years at the top of the Western Conference.
Roster update
posted: at 7:19 PM
Rockets starting point guard Rafer Alston is inactive for tonight's game. Alston is averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 assists and had been playing strong defense of late. Let's see if the Trail Blazers can take advantage of his absence.
Rockets in town
posted: at 7:04 PM
Tonight we're on national television (TNT) as the Trail Blazers host the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets, without All-Star center Yao Ming, have been one of the NBA's hottest teams during the second half of the season.
The Trail Blazers will be without Brandon Roy for the fourth straight game. Roy has been sidelined with a groin injury. The Trail Blazers are 0-3 in this stretch without Roy and will look to get a win on their home court after a tough loss in Los Angeles last night.
Travis Outlaw has started at small forward the last two games and has performed like he had started the entire season. Outlaw has 49 points in the two games, leading the Trail Blazers in scoring.
The Trail Blazers face a tough test in this Rockets team. Tracy McGrady is one of the league's most talented offensive players and is surrounded by quality role players in Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Rafer Alston and Carl Landry.
Let's see if the Trail Blazers can win this game and stay above .500 on the season...
RSS FEED
Post a Comment
<< Home