Alperen Sengun returned to Houston’s lineup after missing two games with an illness, but it wasn’t enough to slow veteran Trail Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic (27 points, 15 rebounds, 70.6% FG) as the Rockets lost on Friday night in Portland, 125-111 (box score).
Houston fell to 1-5 with the loss, while Portland — without Damian Lillard due to a calf strain — improved to 5-1 on the season.
Besides Nurkic, the Blazers also benefited from a strong night by Anfernee Simons, who took on a higher usage rate in Lillard’s absence and posted a game-high 30 points and 6 assists on 7-of-15 shooting from 3-point range (46.7%). Simons easily outplayed Houston counterpart Jalen Green, who struggled with 11 points on 4-of-19 shooting (21.1%) and 2-of-10 on 3-pointers (20.0%).
Veteran guard Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 18 points and 5 assists on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range (57.1%). Sengun had 14 points (50.0% FG) and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 16 points and 6 rebounds.
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews. The Rockets will play game three of their four-city road trip on Sunday night at Phoenix (3-1), with the tip set for 8:00 p.m. Central.
Highlights
Analysis and Interviews
I know everyone will talk about the offense but the main reason the Rockets keep losing is their defense is horrible. They can’t stop anyone and it continued tonight. The Blazers shot 53 percent from the field tonight pic.twitter.com/nz1MeEtKzb
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 29, 2022
Same, Boban. Same. pic.twitter.com/AnESJ6pfum
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 29, 2022
Strong finish from Sengun. He has 14 points, 11 rebounds (roughly his averages in his three other games this season) and has tied his career high with three blocked shots.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 29, 2022
Jae'Sean Tate fouls out on his b-day with nine points, six assists and three rebounds. #Rockets
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) October 29, 2022
HUGE block from Kevin Porter Jr.! pic.twitter.com/u6YUaNq9GO
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 29, 2022
Shaedon Sharpe went ham and Anfernee Simons brought the mustard as the Blazers smooshed the Houston Rockets for their 5th win in 6 games. @DaveDeckard has some analysis points from a fun night at the Moda Center. https://t.co/vUVaS0GfSh
— Blazer's Edge (@blazersedge) October 29, 2022
No Dame no problem.
Simons: Nurkic:
30 PTS 27 PTS
7 AST 15 REB
7 3P 3 BLK pic.twitter.com/S4bntNOMG7— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 29, 2022
