Rockets at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: Upon further review, the NBA agreed with the Portland Trail Blazers, but too late to change a 111-107 overtime loss to Oklahoma City on Monday night. Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge was called for goaltending on Kevin Durant’s attempted layup with six seconds left. That call tied the score at 103 and the Thunder won in overtime. Referees cannot use instant replay on goaltending calls. Aldridge scored a season-high 39 points but it was the one basket he couldn’t prevent that bothered him. “The ref who called it was the furthest one from the basket, so that’s pretty interesting,” he said. The Trail Blazers, who fell to 11-2 at home, have little time to complain, hosting Houston on Wednesday night. The Rockets, who handed Denver a 99-90 loss Monday night, defeated Portland 107-105 in overtime in Houston on Jan. 14. Aldridge sent that game to overtime with an 18-foot jumper with 23 seconds remaining before Kevin Martin took over in the extra period. Houston snapped a four-game losing streak in Portland in its last visit, with a 103-87 victory March 1.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, KTXH (Rockets), CS Northwest (Trail Blazers)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (14-11): NBA officials should announce Wednesday that Houston will be awarded the 2013 All-Star Game. The game will be played at the Toyota Center next Feb. 17. The Toyota Center also hosted the 2006 All-Star Game. Martin, Houston’s leading scorer, is 2 for 19 in his last two games for just 10 points. That comes on the heels of his best shooting game of the season, as he went 6 of 9 for 16 points against Phoenix.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (14-11): Despite the wrenching goaltending call against them, the Trail Blazers were just 5 of 20 from 3-point range and also were outrebounded by the Thunder 59-39. “Regardless of the call, we’ve got to rebound,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. Raymond Felton, who sat out Monday with a sprained left foot, is questionable for tonight’s game. Portland center Marcus Camby missed practice Tuesday with bronchitis but is probable for Wednesday’s game.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Rockets have defeated the Trail Blazers in 20 of the last 28 games.
2. Aldridge has scored at least 20 points in each of his last eight regular season visits to Houston.
3. According to reports, the Rockets are close to signing center Greg Smith from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.