Brooks Leads Rockets Over Blazers
HOUSTON, TX -- Aaron Brooks helped snap the Houston Rockets' three-game losing streak Friday night with 33 points as the Rockets held on to slip past the Portland Trail Blazers 104-100 in front of 16,129 fans.
The Rockets (25-21) struggled in the first quarter missing a lot of good looks at the basket and trailed the Blazers 28-18 at the end of the opening quarter. Brooks (eight points) and Trevor Ariza (seven points) combined for 15 of the 18 total points.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points in the quarter for the Blazers (27-21).
The second quarter was a completely different story. The Rockets limited the Blazers to just 26.1% (6 for 23) field goal shooting while shooting 52.6% (10 for 19). Carl Landry scored 11 points in the second quarter and Brooks chipped with nine points as the Rockets outscored the Blazers 31-19 in the period and took a 49-47 lead at halftime.
Both teams hit their stride on offense in the third quarter. The Rockets made 12 of their 19 shots (63.2%); and, the Blazers shot 9 for 16 (56.3%).
Luis Scola scored 10 points; and Brooks, once again, scored nine.
Leading 78-71 after three quarters, the Rockets offense sputtered early in the fourth period; and, the Blazers outscored the Rockets 13 to 6 to knot the game at 84 with 6:30 left in the ball game.
Scola made two free throws; Landry scored a put-back slam dunk; and, Brooks drove in for a lay-up to stretch the lead to six points (90-84) at the five minute mark.
Over the next 99 seconds, Portland's Rudy Fernandez scored five points to trim the Rockets lead to two points (94-92); but, Landry controlled the paint and slammed home one basket and converted a lay-up to give the Rockets a 98-92 lead at the 1:46 mark of the game. Brooks made two foul shots for 100-92 lead with just 29.1 seconds remaining; and, the game seemed well in hand.
However, sandwiched around two missed free throws by Carl Landry, Rudy Ferndandez made two free throws and swished a long step-back three-point shot to pull the Blazers within three points (100-97). Brooks made two free throws; but, Fernandez responded with another long step-back three point bucket to trim the Rockets' lead to just two points (102-100) with 8.5 seconds remaining.
Landry was fouled; made the first free throw; and, missed the second foul shot; however, Shane Battier tapped the long rebound out to near midcourt. Trevor Ariza rebounded the loose ball and was fouled. Ariza split two free throws; but, the Rockets owned a 104-100 lead with 6.3 seconds on the clock.
Portland failed to score in the final seconds; and, the Rockets picked up the very much needed victory.
Fernandez scored a game-high 25 points (9 for 14 from the field including 5 for 6 on threes).
"I'm just completely glad to get the win," said a relieved Rick Adelman. "I thought the guys for the whole game stuck in there, played hard and made a lot of shots down the stretch there. You know, (Rudy) Fernandez was terrific, knocking 3s down. We just seemed to try to make it difficult but you know, I'll take the win after the last three games. It was a win we needed and we got and hopefully we can build off that."
Landry finished the game with 21 points (6 for 13 from the field but just 9 for 14 from the foul line).
"We missed a lot of free throws down the stretch as I'm sure everyone could hear or see," Landry said. "We just made it tough on ourselves but at the end of the day we came up with a victory and that's what we want."
Aaron Brooks added, "We just kept fighting throughout the whole game. When we got down, we pushed back and we got stops."
The Rockets continue their six-game homestand Sunday night with game number five -- versus the Phoenix Suns. Tip is set for 6 p.m.
The Rockets (25-21) struggled in the first quarter missing a lot of good looks at the basket and trailed the Blazers 28-18 at the end of the opening quarter. Brooks (eight points) and Trevor Ariza (seven points) combined for 15 of the 18 total points.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 12 points in the quarter for the Blazers (27-21).
The second quarter was a completely different story. The Rockets limited the Blazers to just 26.1% (6 for 23) field goal shooting while shooting 52.6% (10 for 19). Carl Landry scored 11 points in the second quarter and Brooks chipped with nine points as the Rockets outscored the Blazers 31-19 in the period and took a 49-47 lead at halftime.
Both teams hit their stride on offense in the third quarter. The Rockets made 12 of their 19 shots (63.2%); and, the Blazers shot 9 for 16 (56.3%).
Luis Scola scored 10 points; and Brooks, once again, scored nine.
Leading 78-71 after three quarters, the Rockets offense sputtered early in the fourth period; and, the Blazers outscored the Rockets 13 to 6 to knot the game at 84 with 6:30 left in the ball game.
Scola made two free throws; Landry scored a put-back slam dunk; and, Brooks drove in for a lay-up to stretch the lead to six points (90-84) at the five minute mark.
Over the next 99 seconds, Portland's Rudy Fernandez scored five points to trim the Rockets lead to two points (94-92); but, Landry controlled the paint and slammed home one basket and converted a lay-up to give the Rockets a 98-92 lead at the 1:46 mark of the game. Brooks made two foul shots for 100-92 lead with just 29.1 seconds remaining; and, the game seemed well in hand.
However, sandwiched around two missed free throws by Carl Landry, Rudy Ferndandez made two free throws and swished a long step-back three-point shot to pull the Blazers within three points (100-97). Brooks made two free throws; but, Fernandez responded with another long step-back three point bucket to trim the Rockets' lead to just two points (102-100) with 8.5 seconds remaining.
Landry was fouled; made the first free throw; and, missed the second foul shot; however, Shane Battier tapped the long rebound out to near midcourt. Trevor Ariza rebounded the loose ball and was fouled. Ariza split two free throws; but, the Rockets owned a 104-100 lead with 6.3 seconds on the clock.
Portland failed to score in the final seconds; and, the Rockets picked up the very much needed victory.
Fernandez scored a game-high 25 points (9 for 14 from the field including 5 for 6 on threes).
"I'm just completely glad to get the win," said a relieved Rick Adelman. "I thought the guys for the whole game stuck in there, played hard and made a lot of shots down the stretch there. You know, (Rudy) Fernandez was terrific, knocking 3s down. We just seemed to try to make it difficult but you know, I'll take the win after the last three games. It was a win we needed and we got and hopefully we can build off that."
Landry finished the game with 21 points (6 for 13 from the field but just 9 for 14 from the foul line).
"We missed a lot of free throws down the stretch as I'm sure everyone could hear or see," Landry said. "We just made it tough on ourselves but at the end of the day we came up with a victory and that's what we want."
Aaron Brooks added, "We just kept fighting throughout the whole game. When we got down, we pushed back and we got stops."
The Rockets continue their six-game homestand Sunday night with game number five -- versus the Phoenix Suns. Tip is set for 6 p.m.
posted by Kris G @ 11:40 PM
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