{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Portland 112, Houston 105
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Officials: #19 James Capers, #28 Zach Zarba, #23 Jason Phillips
Attendance: 18331

Trail Blazers 112, Rockets 105:
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 43 points in his second consecutive monumental performance as visiting Portland knocked off Houston to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference series.

Aldridge was 18-of-28 from the field while following up a franchise playoff-record 46-point performance in Game 1 and joined Michael Jordan and Tracy McGrady as the only players in NBA history to score 40-plus points on the road in Games 1 and 2 of a playoff series. Damian Lillard had 18 points and 11 assists, Dorell Wright scored 15 points and Mo Williams added 13 for the Trail Blazers, who host Friday’s Game 3.

Dwight Howard had 32 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Rockets but had just seven points in the second half. James Harden scored 18 points but was 6-of-19 from the field and Chandler Parsons added 15 points.

The Trail Blazers possessed a 102-93 lead on Aldridge’s putback with 2:59 remaining before Houston cut its deficit to four on Harden’s driving hoop with 1:07 to play. A 3-pointer by Harden pulled the Rockets within 106-103 with 30.7 seconds left but Lillard hit two free throws, Harden was called for an offensive foul and Williams hit two free throws to make it a seven-point margin with 15 seconds to go.

Howard had 19 first-quarter points as Houston opened up a 31-23 lead and the score was knotted at 53 at halftime with Howard having 25 points and Aldridge countering with 23. The Trail Blazers led by nine early in the third, the Rockets recovered to briefly take the lead and Portland closed strong to take an 83-77 lead into the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Aldridge is averaging 44.5 points on 35-of-59 shooting in the first two games. … Harden is just 14-of-47 shooting in the series, including 5-of-19 from 3-point range. … The Rockets held an astounding 68-30 edge in points in the paint but went 3-of-16 from 3-point range.
Top Game Performances
 
Portland   Houston
LaMarcus Aldridge 43 Scoring Dwight Howard 32
Damian Lillard 11 Assists Jeremy Lin 5
Robin Lopez 10 Rebounds Dwight Howard 14
Damian Lillard 10 Free Throws Made Dwight Howard 6
Dorell Wright 2 Steals Terrence Jones 2
LaMarcus Aldridge 3 Blocks Dwight Howard 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Portland 112 47.6 8-23 24-27 23 43 11 5 14
Houston 105 43.3 3-16 24-30 16 42 4 7 15
Upcoming Games
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against Portland. The Rockets have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Portland will play their next game at home against Houston. The Trail Blazers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.