Damian Lillard owns the clutch; Trail Blazers stun the Rockets 119-117 in O.T. – NBA Recap
Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets have provided some of the most enthralling basketball when they have come face to face this season. The last game between these sides earlier this month was an overtime affair, which
the Trail Blazers won by 10 points. And on Friday night, the game was stretched into bonus period as well. Again, it was the team from Portland that emerged triumphant albeit just by two points, 119-117.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd at the Rose Garden, small forward Nicolas Batum erupted with 35 points and launched a third quarter comeback for the hosts. The French forward scored 14 points in the period, including nine
on a trot at one point.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points on an 11 of 19 shooting while rookie Damian Lillard played like a veteran down the stretch to provide the final push for the hosts, who have now won two consecutive games after a three game skid.
Lillard scored 16 of the last 21 points scored by the Trail Blazers and ended the night with a career high 27 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Wesley Matthews also added 15 point for Portland.
Rockets were the early favourites and were leading by as many as 16 points, 51-35, in the first half, during which they shot 55 percent from the floor. The Trail Blazers narrowed that gap to 51-58 till the break, but the Rockets
extended their lead to 15 again, courtesy of a 9-2 run with 6:46 to go in the third.
That was where Batum took over and by the time, the teams entered the fourth quarter, it was just a one point game at 79-78, advantage Rockets.
Houston picked up the momentum early in the fourth and near the midway mark of the period, a three pointer by Chandler Parsons, pushed them to 100-93. His free throw nearly one and a half minutes later made it 103-98 before Lillard
scored 11 of the next 13 Portland points to make it 111-108.
Marcus Morris however saved the Rockets with a clutch three as the game moved into overtime. Harden started the overtime with a three point play, but Lillard was not done yet. He knocked down a three and after Omer Asik made a
couple from the stripe, he nailed a jumper to make it 116-all.
Aldridge scored the next three points, and the Rockets failed to close the gap despite having two shots at the rim in the last 30 seconds.
James Harden scored 29 points for the Rockets, who also got 19 points and 11 rebounds from Chandler Parsons.
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