Rockets at Trail Blazers
James Harden seems to enjoy playing against the Portland Trail Blazers this season and he’ll get another shot Wednesday when the Houston Rockets continue their four-game road trip. Harden scored 44 points on 14-for-26 shooting in the first meeting this season — a 15-point win by the Rockets on Dec. 22 — and matched his season high with 45 points in the second matchup Feb. 8, a 11-point Portland win that also took place in Houston. Both teams have been off since Saturday, so they should be fresh.
The Trail Blazers enter a game behind the Rockets in fourth place in the Western Conference, but even in the loss column. Portland has won five of its last six, but suffered a bad loss Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, its first full game without third-leading scorer Wesley Matthews, who suffered a torn Achilles' tendon on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. Houston has won two straight following a two-game hiccup last week against the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ROOT (Houston), KGW (Portland)
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (43-20): Corey Brewer made his Rockets' debut in the first game against the Trail Blazers following his trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves and he has been a big lift off the bench. He most recently scored 24 points in a win against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, connecting on 9-of-16 field goals, though he only netted five points in the most recent game against Portland. Terrence Jones hasn’t been much of a factor against the Trail Blazers this season, missing the first game with left leg inflammation and totaling three points in 14 minutes in the second, but seems to be feeling well lately, averaging 18 points and 9.2 rebounds in the last six games.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (41-20): Portland leading scorer and rebounder LaMarcus Aldridge also missed the December game against Houston with an upper-respiratory infection and he showed the difference he can make after scoring 24 points in the second game to help Portland win. Aldridge has made at least 10 field goals in seven of the last nine games against the Rockets. He should be a little easier to double team with Matthews sidelined, placing an emphasis on his passing skills, but Aldridge doesn’t have an assist in his last three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Rockets C Dwight Howard, who has been out since late January with knee inflammation, has reportedly resumed light on-court workouts, but no timetable has been established for his return.
2. The Trail Blazers eliminated the Rockets in six games in the Western Conference quarterfinals last season, marking the first time Portland advanced out of the first round since the 1999-2000 season.
3. Portland is the only NBA team with a record of .500 or better when trailing after three quarters (12-12).
PREDICTION: Rockets 97, Trail Blazers 94