HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets are one win away from finally escaping the first round.
Yao Ming had 21 points and 12 rebounds and the Rockets took a 3-1 lead
in their playoff series with Portland, beating the Trail Blazers 89-88
on Sunday night.
Luis Scola scored 17 points and Shane Battier added 14 points and six
assists for the Rockets, who snapped a six-game losing streak in Game
4s, coinciding with their 0-6 record in first-round series since 1998.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Portland.
Brandon Roy scored 31 points and went 13-for-13 from the free-throw line for the Blazers.
Portland led 70-64 after three quarters and had their chances to pull out a victory in the final minute.
Houston led 87-85 when Ron Artest missed a baseline shot with 27
seconds left and Roy rebounded. Out of a timeout, Roy drove to the
basket and was called for an offensive foul when he plowed into Chuck
Hayes.
Aaron Brooks made one free throw with 10 seconds left, but missed the
second one. Travis Outlaw then missed a three-pointer, Brooks sank
another free throw and Rudy Fernandez hit a three with 2.3 seconds left.
The Blazers couldn’t get another shot after Kyle Lowry missed two free
throws with 1.2 seconds left and lost in Houston for the 12th time in
their last 13 visits.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points and Outlaw had 14 for the Blazers.
Yao went 7-for-14 from the field, his best game since he scored 24 in Game 1, a 108-81 Rockets victory.
Portland centres Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden each picked up two early
fouls trying to guard Yao in Game 4, forcing Blazers coach Nate
McMillan to go to a smaller lineup.
Roy and Yao both shot well in the first half after both defences keyed
on them in Game 3. Roy scored 15 points and went 6-for-6 from the
free-throw line, while Yao went 3-for-6 from the field and had 11
points.
The Rockets outrebounded Portland 20-16 in the half and led 50-44 at the break.
Houston’s offence went stagnant after Scola’s layup put the Rockets up
58-51 with 6:43 left in the third quarter. Roy continued to draw
Houston’s defence with aggressive drives and either drew contact or
found teammates for open shots.
Aldridge scored six points and Steve Blake sank a three-pointer during
the Blazers’ 19-6 run. Roy scored 10 in the third quarter, going
6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
The Rockets missed their last seven shots of the third quarter to fall
behind, but Yao dunked and Von Wafer sank a three-pointer to get
Houston going again.
Scola’s jumper from the free-throw line tied it at 77-all, and Yao’s
hook shot on Houston’s next trip put the Rockets back in front.
The lead changed hands three times before Battier’s three-pointer from
the corner with 3:25 left gave the Rockets an 85-83 lead. Carl Landry
hit a jumper from the free-throw line before Aldridge’s free throws
with 2:15 left trimmed Houston’s lead to 87-85.
