Rockets propel past Blazers with 3-point shot

With ten 3-pointers in the first half, Houston easily beat Portland

By Dave Holcomb

Portland came into Monday’s game as the No. 1 team in scoring and rebounding, but it was the Houston Rockets that dominated those categories on its way to a 126-113 victory.

The Rockets scored 34 points or more in the first three quarters, and had 71 points at halftime, leading the Trail Blazers by 15. The scoring came from all over on Monday night, but early on it came from the 3-point line as Houston shot 10-for-13 from behind the arc in the first half. No team could ever dream of keeping up that pace, and at one point in the third quarter, it looked as if Portland could comeback as the visiting team crept back into the game behind a 8-for-12 mark from the field to start the second half.

But behind 18,000-plus in the seats at the Toyota Center, the lead never shrunk further than six points. Small forward Chandler Parsons led the way for the Rockets with 31 points and 10 rebounds to record his fifth double-double of the season. He also shot the best percentage from the 3-point line with 60 percent.

Houston had a total of five players in double figures, including Parsons, four of which, were starters. Center Dwight Howard scored 24 points and led the Rockets with 12 rebounds. Shooting guard James Harden made 4-of-9 3-pointers and scored 22 points while point guard Patrick Beverley had 17 points.

Fellow point guard Jeremy Lin came off the bench and scored 15 points, and starting power forward Donatas Motlejunas had nine points and nine boards.

As a team, the Rockets shot 16-for-33 from behind the arc in the game.

Portland also had four of its five starters in double figures, but made half as many 3-pointers (eight) than Houston did. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge had a superb game with 27 points and 20 rebounds.

Aldridge, however, had more than half his team’s rebounds as Houston out-rebounded Portland 52-37.

This was the third meeting between these two teams, and the Rockets lead the series 2-1 with the last remaining meeting left in Houston. With both teams chasing the Spurs, this was an impressive win for the former Cheers guest star’s squad.