Jalen Green has 26 points and Houston cruises to 116-107 win over Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Jalen Green had 26 points and the Houston Rockets spoiled Portland's final game at home this season with a 116-107 victory Friday night.
Jock Landale had 20 points and Aaron Holiday came of the bench to score 18 for Houston, which had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Rookie Amen Thompson had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, playing the second of a back-to-back.
“I was just trying to go hard, bounce back after last night. I felt the team, we brought the energy today, so it was good," Thompson said, reflecting on a lackluster loss to the Jazz the night before.
Scoot Henderson had 30 points for the Trail Blazers, who have lost four in a row and 14 of their last 16 with one game left. Portland was second-to-last in the Western Conference.
Houston (40-41) led by 20 points in the third quarter but the Blazers narrowed it to 82-73 on Henderson's dunk and free throw. Henderson added a step-back jumper to get Portland closer.
Cam Whitmore's 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter extended Houston's lead to double digits again and the Rockets cruised the rest of the way.
“It was a little slow to start, but we had a good second quarter,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “A lot of guys stepped up did a lot of good things.”
The Rockets were without Fred VanVleet because of a right hip contusion. VanVleet has averaged 17.4 points with a career-high 8.1 assists. He scored a season-high 42 points Thursday in a 124-121 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Thompson, who also had six assists, helped pick up the slack.
“I love experiences like that, getting to develop in different positions, point guard, everything,” he said.
Portland (21-60) had shut down many of its regular starters earlier this month, including Anfernee Simons (left knee tendonitis), Jerami Grant (right hamstring) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle). The Blazers were coming off a 100-92 loss to the Warriors the night before.
The game showcased a trio of rookies, Portland's Henderson and Houston's Thompson and Whitmore, who finished with 11 points.
“I was happy to see him come in and really dominate the game today and take care of the ball. One turnover. That was my big takeaway for him, especially against a team like that, that pressures and turns you over, and plays physical,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said about Henderson.
Henderson's bank shot gave the Blazers a 16-9 lead in the first quarter but the Rockets closed the gap to 24-23 to start the second.
The Rockets went on a 16-5 run, capped by Thompson's basket that gave Houston a 41-29 lead. Henderson hit a 3-pointer from midcourt to slow the momentum, but the Rockets led 54-50 at the half.
Dillon Brooks' 3-pointer gave the Rockets a 62-42 lead in the third quarter. Green got tangled up with Moses Brown, who appeared to inadvertently step on his foot late in the quarter. Green left the court but returned midway through the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Close out the season on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
Trail Blazers: Visit Sacramento on Sunday for the final game of the season.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jock Landale vs. Deandre Ayton (Rayan Rupert gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | +3 | Jabari Walker makes three point jump shot (Deandre Ayton assists) | 0-3 |
| 11:18 |  | Jalen Green turnover (bad pass) (Deandre Ayton steals) | ||
| 11:04 | | +2 | Jabari Walker makes two point driving reverse layup (Scoot Henderson assists) | 0-5 |
| 10:52 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 2-5 |
| 10:24 | | Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Deandre Ayton's two point jump shot | ||
| 10:22 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | Deandre Ayton technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 10:11 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 3-5 |
| 10:04 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 5-5 |
| 9:43 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point layup (Scoot Henderson assists) | 5-7 |
| 9:34 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point pullup jump shot | 7-7 |
| 9:12 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Rayan Rupert assists) | 7-10 |
| 8:51 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup | 9-10 |
| 8:28 | | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:26 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Jabari Walker personal foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:14 | | Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:12 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 8:04 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 9-12 |
| 7:52 | | Amen Thompson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:49 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 7:43 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point running reverse layup | ||
| 7:42 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Jabari Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | +1 | Jabari Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-13 |
| 7:42 | | +1 | Jabari Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-14 |
| 7:31 | | Amen Thompson turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 7:09 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Rayan Rupert assists) | 9-16 |
| 6:52 | | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:48 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point putback layup | 11-16 |
| 6:43 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:43 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:26 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 6:25 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:14 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 6:03 | | Dalano Banton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:01 | | Jock Landale defensive rebound | ||
| 5:56 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point running layup | ||
| 5:54 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 5:37 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point stepback jump shot | 11-19 |
| 5:14 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:14 | | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Jock Landale shooting foul (Jabari Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 4:58 | | Jabari Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:58 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 4:58 | | Jabari Walker misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:58 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:41 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point driving reverse layup (Cam Whitmore assists) | 13-19 |
| 4:23 | | Kris Murray misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:21 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:11 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point cutting dunk (Jeff Green assists) | 15-19 |
| 3:53 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 3:37 | | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:35 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:24 | | Dalano Banton misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:22 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 3:16 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 18-19 |
| 2:58 | | Jabari Walker misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:56 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 2:55 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:34 | | +2 | Jabari Walker makes two point driving layup | 18-21 |
| 2:14 | | Duop Reath blocks Jalen Green's two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 2:10 | | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | Cam Whitmore personal foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 1:50 | | Dalano Banton misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 1:48 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 1:46 | | Cam Whitmore turnover (lost ball) (Rayan Rupert steals) | ||
| 1:27 | | Jabari Walker turnover (bad pass) (Cam Whitmore steals) | ||
| 1:19 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point running layup | ||
| 1:17 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 1:15 | | Dalano Banton blocks Jabari Smith Jr.'s two point putback layup | ||
| 1:12 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 1:10 | | +3 | Rayan Rupert makes three point running jump shot (Justin Minaya assists) | 18-24 |
| 0:53 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving layup | 20-24 |
| 0:33 | | Dalano Banton misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:31 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:18 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 23-24 |
| 0:04 | | Rayan Rupert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Jeff Green misses three point floating jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:43 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:38 | | Rayan Rupert misses two point running layup | ||
| 11:36 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 11:31 | | Aaron Holiday misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 11:28 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | Rayan Rupert turnover (bad pass) (Cam Whitmore steals) | ||
| 11:15 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point running pullup jump shot (Reggie Bullock Jr. assists) | 25-24 |
| 10:54 | | Justin Minaya misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:50 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point running jump shot (Cam Whitmore assists) | 28-24 |
| 10:21 | | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point driving layup | 28-26 |
| 9:59 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 31-26 |
| 9:41 | | Duop Reath misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:40 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point cutting layup (Rayan Rupert assists) | 31-28 |
| 9:22 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 33-28 |
| 9:04 | | Aaron Holiday shooting foul (Rayan Rupert draws the foul) | ||
| 9:04 | | Rayan Rupert misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:04 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:04 | | +1 | Rayan Rupert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-29 |
| 8:48 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:45 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 8:41 | | Reggie Bullock Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point tip layup | 35-29 |
| 8:16 | | Dalano Banton misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 8:14 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 8:06 | | Duop Reath defensive rebound | ||
| 8:01 | | Rayan Rupert misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:01 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Cam Whitmore assists) | 37-29 |
| 7:49 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:32 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:28 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:25 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point running layup (Amen Thompson assists) | 39-29 |
| 7:06 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (bad pass) (Jock Landale steals) | ||
| 7:01 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running finger roll layup | 41-29 |
| 6:33 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point turnaround jump shot (Rayan Rupert assists) | 41-32 |
| 6:16 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving floating jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 43-32 |
| 5:58 | | Deandre Ayton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:55 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point running layup | 45-32 |
| 5:35 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point pullup jump shot | 45-35 |
| 5:24 | | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 5:09 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:52 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:50 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 4:37 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving layup (Jock Landale assists) | 47-35 |
| 4:26 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 4:23 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 4:00 | | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:57 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 3:43 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 50-35 |
| 3:42 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:27 | | Deandre Ayton turnover (traveling) | ||
| 3:11 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 3:09 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:05 | | +3 | Dalano Banton makes three point running jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 50-38 |
| 2:54 | | Jock Landale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:51 | | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:41 | | Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:37 | | Kris Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:14 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:07 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point pullup jump shot | 52-38 |
| 1:44 | | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:38 | | Justin Minaya offensive rebound | ||
| 1:38 | | +2 | Justin Minaya makes two point tip layup | 52-40 |
| 1:26 | | Justin Minaya personal foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 1:21 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 1:13 | | Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Deandre Ayton's two point driving layup | ||
| 1:10 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point running dunk (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 54-40 |
| 0:50 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:47 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 0:36 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:33 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:15 | | Jock Landale blocks Scoot Henderson's two point driving layup | ||
| 0:12 | | Scoot Henderson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:12 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:10 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Scoot Henderson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Deandre Ayton misses three point floating jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |