Ariza helps Rockets overcome Roy’s 42
HOUSTON (AP)—No Yao Ming(notes). No Tracy McGrady(notes). No problem for the HoustonRockets.
Trevor Ariza(notes), making the move from the Lakers this season, scored a careerhigh 33 points, Aaron Brooks(notes) added 28 points and the Rockets held on to beat thePortland Trail Blazers at home for the fifth straight time in regular season,111-107 Saturday night.
“I know it was an important game for us,” Ariza said. “They (Portland)are one of the better teams in the West with a lot of talent, too. It was biggerfor us to win at home tonight.”
Yao is out for the season following foot surgery and McGrady is recoveringfrom knee surgery, leaving the Rockets to find ways to win games without theirbig guys.
Houston Rockets' Aaron Bro… AP – Nov 1, 12:22 am EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Tracy McG… AP – Nov 1, 12:09 am EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Yao Ming(… AP – Nov 1, 12:08 am EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Joey Dors… AP – Nov 1, 12:08 am EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Trevor Ar… AP – Oct 31, 11:53 pm EDT ![]()
Portland Trail Blazers' Br… AP – Oct 31, 11:53 pm EDT ![]()
Portland Trail Blazers' Br… AP – Oct 31, 11:52 pm EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Carl Land… AP – Oct 31, 11:39 pm EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Trevor Ar… AP – Oct 31, 10:29 pm EDT ![]()
Portland Trailblazers' Tra… AP – Oct 31, 10:28 pm EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Carl Land… AP – Oct 31, 10:18 pm EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Trevor Ar… AP – Oct 31, 10:17 pm EDT ![]()
Houston Rockets' Carl Land… AP – Oct 31, 10:12 pm EDT ![]()
Portland Trailblazers' Gre… AP – Oct 31, 10:12 pm EDT ![]()
Portland Trailblazers' Bra… AP – Oct 31, 10:12 pm EDT ![]()
Houstons Rockets' Carl Lan… AP – Oct 31, 10:12 pm EDT ![]()
Portlands' Greg Oden(notes… AP – Oct 31, 10:09 pm EDT ![]()
Portlands' Brandon Roy(not… AP – Oct 31, 10:08 pm EDT YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 17; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.62500433bbc84c7795c17d11b427d99c.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl115.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=357&hc=397&q=70&sig=RSeJQvCVzksGauE1J.gJ8A--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.5de3e1b55f5f4420a4edd4f4a7fbcfbb.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl114.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=283&hc=314&q=70&sig=PQI3Po0AHlpsO8ZLjjTYUA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.eede18901d344db6acafab580ad3900e.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl113.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=24&yc=1&wc=363&hc=403&q=70&sig=HgHuNaZlQgoHWSfkI3cDtQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.02fced290a4a44b0b7b400c9377eff47.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=345&hc=383&q=70&sig=E0hlLIlX8cYMTOg_meXPSQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.14085b5edd2c44008606675f7fd48c15.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl110.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=309&hc=343&q=70&sig=ltkjOLbjGtXo57pocF9cFQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.2c302cbfd3f64e95ad9bd5f3347d66de.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl111.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=40&yc=1&wc=331&hc=368&q=70&sig=OCAzYH4zCVPGXZrvubHbDw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.d82411f64cc54491b6adf35e0243689a.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=285&hc=317&q=70&sig=bjv9wvR3ZRWMwbdv0noJIw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.2f5ff9615cca46d0b21fcd9458486748.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl107.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=358&hc=398&q=70&sig=aM.8fNG6u5QhFHpiFdA_Ig--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.f4a9876b4ab84271998205dc64bda93a.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=368&hc=409&q=70&sig=oCQnF2u7kWBhJDsUdsRS.Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.c91c549a13ff427e92f0a12e1db34b2d.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=253&hc=281&q=70&sig=d47hDzF.4Eop16GnaUezvA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.be41887f62e84278b2b0dfef81e21811.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=328&hc=364&q=70&sig=qEMe.tdqqf4a9A5Jrr6sdg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.1866c9947e33440789abf6413e002858.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=349&hc=388&q=70&sig=FbKtyxIxSR91sntVBgxyaw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.3731b46c851044cb8cc64a287ec8395e.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=336&hc=373&q=70&sig=926yr5rc2Rf69vn7WTaSRw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.795a71e0239a4e2c91af6ea56a7aba74.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=368&hc=409&q=70&sig=etfDrNmfiFul6wZr0MCA7w--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.7693ea931fc148fdb1b93b94501bdebe.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=349&hc=388&q=70&sig=3VGOg68kdFvnCzADViFKbA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.6b4f601c4506444ea7717fa218cdf716.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=336&hc=373&q=70&sig=V6bE7yDwiaQMEArWDP6XTw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091101/capt.5cafc39a24e54ba4849b8f43b9de4916.trail_blazers_rockets_basketball_txbl101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=368&hc=409&q=70&sig=FhpydPpSltMp4cURKGWFWA--]; 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“We’ve got a pretty young team and we’ve got a bunch of new faces on thisteam so the scouting report is not that big,” Carl Landry(notes) said. “We’ve gotguys that are hungry who are going out there every night and fighting hard toget us in the ‘W’ column.”
Houston had to overcome a 42-point performance by Brandon Roy(notes) and adetermined Trail Blazers offense that kept the game close to the end.
“Ariza and Brooks did whatever they wanted,” Portland coach Nate McMillansaid. “They controlled the ball and made their shots.”
Ariza’s previous career high was 26 points last March 15 for the Los AngelesLakers against Dallas.
The Rockets hit 12 of 24 3-point baskets and shot 50.6 percent overall forthe game. Ariza was 5 for 8 from 3-point range.
Ariza started 20 games for the Lakers last season. He expects to see moreplaying time with the Rockets. He already likes the fast pace.
“If that’s what it takes for us to win then that is how we need to play,”Ariza said. “No matter how tired we are, no matter what the situation is orwhat the odds are. If we want to win, we have to play that way every night.”
Houston led 59-54 at the half and never lost the lead. Portland got to 87-84early in the fourth quarter but never could push ahead. LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) scored27 points for the Trail Blazers and Andre Miller(notes) had 15.
Brooks’ 28 points missed his career high of 30 last March 6 against Phoenix.
The Rockets led by 11 early in the second quarter and they were up 54-44with 2:20 remaining in the first half. Roy had eight second quarter points,including a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch to keep it close at the halfwith the Rockets leading 59-54.
“Right from the start, we were in trouble giving up 33 points in the firstquarter,” McMillan said. “Our transition game is important and we nevercontrolled the ball. Houston got to the basket and made their shots.”
Ariza broke loose with 16 first quarter points to get the Rockets started.He was 6 for 6 from 2-point range and hit both 3-pointers, and the Rockets easedto a 33-28 first quarter lead.
Aldridge hit his first five shots, and the Trail Blazers took the earlylead, hitting 12 of their first 14 points in the paint.
The Rockets knocked the Trail Blazers out of the playoffs last year with a4-2 series win in the first round.
“Our defense was not very good, right now we’re not giving much effort onthe defensive end and that’s where it starts,” Roy said. “It doesn’t seem likeour effort is there. I see a team that’s stinking too much right now.”
NOTES: Rockets coach Rick Adelman still ranks as the second winningest coachin Trail Blazers history (291-154) behind Jack Ramsay. Portland’s loss to Denveron Thursday came despite a 43-42 halftime Trail Blazer lead. Portland wasunbeaten (26-0) last season when leading at halftime at the Rose Garden.Portland plays 19 back-to-backs this season. They were 23-4 last year in thesecond game of back-to-backs.
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