For a stretch, it looked like the Portland Trail Blazers would be locked into a 48-minute dogfight against the Houston Rockets Saturday night on the road.
The Rockets were shooting from the arc like kindergartners, but pounding the offensive glass like behemoths in a physical, ugly game that saw the Blazers lead by only six at halftime. But in the third quarter, the Blazers tightened up, using a big defensive effort and enough offensive firepower to seize control of the game. The Blazers led by as much as 22 in the second half, eventually winning 107-95.