Rockets Aim to Shoot Blazing Streak to Seven in Portland
Backcourt Battle. Big Matchup. Tougher Test.
Houston looks to keep it’s hot-streak going as the Beard and company visit the Moda Center in Portland, looking for their season-high 7th straight win. The Rockets are coming off their best win of the season thus far. After trailing by as many as 20 in the third, Houston came all the way back to beat the Warriors in a Bay Area OT-thriller capped off with the defining shot of James Harden’s career (so far). Despite speculative officiating, the game was a highlight for the league, as the NBA’s best went toe-to-toe late in the game, and some new Rockets (Rivers, House) didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Houston is cooking up some incredible play over impressive competition, led by their bearded chef, who seems to break records and gain momentum with each performance. The Rockets are in the middle of the toughest stretch of the entire season. Regardless, this can be easy to forget, with the Beard carrying the squad, leading the Rockets to win-after-win while making sure the “others” aren’t forgotten. Harden needs to make sure Houston’s not too high after a momentous win over Golden State. Portland has always been one of the tougher places to play in the NBA, and the Blazers may not be the Champs, but they’re no joke, either. The Rockets need to be ready and bring the same focus into the Moda Center that they brought into Oracle.
One of the more dominant backcourts in the league, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are a handful. Austin Rivers has another great opportunity to show why he’s a perfect fit next to Harden in the backcourt. Rivers has taken on the best guards in the NBA over the last several games (including Curry, Westbrook, and Irving). He’s more than held his own, as the Rockets are undefeated since signing Rivers before Christmas. Last time these two teams met, they set the record for points in a game by starting backcourts, combining for 97 points in a shoot out the Rockets won by seven. In their first meeting, the Blazers ran all over Houston. Although, Harden didn’t play in that game, which took place during the Carmelo Anthony-experiment, back in October. Expect another backcourt-battle tonight as Rivers has a chance to prove why he’s one of the most underrated isolation-scorers in the league.
The matchup of the night takes place in the paint. Clint Capela, coming off another incredible outing, with 29 and 21, will bruise for boards with Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, an underrated big man who does the majority of the plodding in the paint for Portland. Capela will have his hands full in the post, but if he keeps playing inspired ball, Clint should have another solid game tonight to add to his All-Star resume. Tucker, House, and the Beard will certainly help Capela on the glass, and Rivers adds length to what should be a Rockets rebounding advantage tonight.
Houston needs to come out and strike first, to avoid any potential of a hangover from the previous game. Don’t expect Houston to have any letdowns from their season-defining victory in the previous game. The squad looks focused, and should be ready to take advantage of a Blazers team coming off a tough loss last night to the Thunder. The Rockets are the more-rested team, and shouldn’t have lost any of their focus. If they do seem over-confident, the Beard won’t let them forget the Blazers are no joke. Look for Harden to continue his scorching stretch of play, and put 40 or more on a Blazers team that will be too tired to contain Harden’s handles. The Beard has passed tougher tests.
Moda Center: Portland, Oregon
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (22-15): “Earned” Red
Portland Trailblazers (22-17): Black
TV: 9:00 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW