The Portland Trail Blazers fell 104-101 to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in a game that left them fighting to the end, despite losing another player.
Already among four key players, the Blazers lost forward Derrick Jones Jr. during Thursday night’s game in Houston on a left foot push.
Could he have helped the team complete a close match? Hard to say for sure. But because Anfernee Simons’ three-point effort on the buzzer could not come close to equalizing the game, one had to wonder how the Blazers managed to stay even in this game given all their injuries.
The Blazers (9-8) deserve at least some credit for finding a way to almost win.
“I thought it was a good effort from everyone,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “It was a good start. It was a wonderful finish. We fell short. We had our chances in the fourth quarter. Made a good comeback and really competed … I was happy with how we played. ”
Damian Lillard said the Blazers’ effort is what he wants to see from his team every night.
“I was proud of our fight,” Lillard said.
Portland led 30-10 in a hot first quarter but could not maintain the level of play.
‘If you do not do that and play against NBA teams, especially a team like Houston with guys who are skilled, you put yourself in a dogfight on the road and you put yourself in a position where chance to win the game lost, ”Lillard said. “And that’s what happened.”
As for Jones, Stotts said his X-rays were ‘clear’.
But if he can not play in Chicago on Saturday, and forward Robert Covington (concussion) does not return, the Blazers will be four starters, counting guard CJ McCollum (broken foot) and center Jusuf Nurkic (broken wrist) .
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Portland dropped the first game of its six-game trip, but since the conditions played out pretty well. When the game ended, Portland still fell from fifth place in the Western Conference to eighth. After Phoenix (9-8) won 114-93 over Golden State (10-9) later Thursday night, the Blazers were tied for seventh place with the Suns.
It was over when …
Portland had several chances to steal this game late from Houston (8-9). The Blazers were only 99-98 behind with 1:28 left when Lillard scored a two-point basket. This led to center Enes Kanter blocking a shot by John Wall, John Guard, on a shot to the basket.
But on the other hand, Lillard missed a deep disappearance three straight.
Then, with 26.2 seconds left, Victor Oladipo, the Rockets keeper, hit the basket to give Houston a 101-98 lead.
The forward of Jae’Sean Tate (8) and the guard Victor Oladipo (7) of the Houston Rockets attempt a shot by Portland Trail Blazers, Gary Trent Jr. (2), during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, January 28, 2021, in Houston. (Troy Taormina / Pool photo via AP) APAP
At the Blazers’ next possession, guard Gary Trent Jr. drove to the basket but could not convert.
“It was an easy set-up,” Trent said. “I smoked it. I should have laid it down … We had a plan to lay one down. I’ll make it next time. ‘
This led to a deliberate foul by Christian Wood, who made one of the two free kicks to make the score 102-98 Rockets with 17.4 seconds left.
The Blazers returned to Lillard, but Houston’s defense was all over him. He finally got the ball to Simons, and he raised a try that was good with 3.1 seconds left.
But the Blazers still trailed 102-101. Portland erred guard Eric Gordon, who both threw free throws with 2.1 seconds left, leading to Simons’ last failed attempt.
“They were in a small group,” Stotts said of the final game. “We knew they would switch a lot, and we tried to get enough movement so that someone would open up.”
That someone was Simons, but his shot failed.
Portland led 30-10 in the first quarter and entered the second quarter 32-17, especially since Lillard scored 13 in the first quarter.
Then Houston got serious and dominated the second quarter 36-18. The Rockets scored 15 points in the transition in the quarter.
“Their transition offense was the biggest difference in the second quarter,” Stotts said.
The Rockets built up a double-digit lead in the second half, but the Blazers came back in the fourth quarter, largely thanks to several three-pointers from Trent.
“We tried to fight the best,” Trent said. “Had a few opportunities, but came up short.”
SHOWN UP AND POSTPONED
Lillard led all scorers by 30 points. He made 11 of 23 shots, including 5 of 11 tries. He also had nine assistants.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) rides against PJ Tucker (17) against Houston Rockets (17) during the NBA basketball game Thursday, January 28, 2021 in Houston. (Troy Taormina / Pool photo via AP) APAP
Trent scored 7 of 13 tries and finished with 23 points. He shot 8 of 16 overall.
“His three-point shooting got us back in the game,” Stotts said.
Simons had another strong game, making 4 of 9 tries in 28 minutes off the bench. Overall, he shot 5 of 13 from the field for 14 points, and he had eight rebounds.
“I think from an offensive point of view, he’s probably comfortable taking shots and committing the offense,” Stotts said. ‘With CJ outside, he knows there is more responsibility, and he accepts the responsibility.
Simons scored 26 against Oklahoma City on Monday and previously had 16 games against the New York Knicks.
Kanter played well inside and yielded 13 points and 13 rebounds.
For Houston, Wood had 22 points and 12 rebounds. When he was in the game, it was clear that no one in Portland’s roster could handle him.
Oladipo scored 11 of 23, but only made 2 of 10 tries. He finishes with 25 points, five assists and seven rebounds.
DRAWN UP AND FIZZLED
Portland forward Carmelo Anthony scored just six points on the 3-of-14 shooting. But he returned nine times and stole two.
Center Harry Giles made just 1 of 4 shots for four points, and guard / forward Rodney Hood made just 1 of 5 shots for two points.
Gordon of Houston came off the bench for Houston and made just 2 of 11 shots for eight points and scored four times.
FOLLOWING (Blazers schedule)
The Blazers’ six-game series continues with a game Saturday at 5 p.m. in Chicago (7-10). The Bulls defeated the Blazers 111-108 in the Moda Center on 5 January.
The Blazers then play rugby matches on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, the Blazers play at Milwaukee (11-6). On Tuesday, they play Washington (3-11).
– Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress(Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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