Rockets 103 - 96 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Portland tries to bounce back at home vs. Rockets

Feb 8, 2012 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - Portland will seek to rebound from a rare loss in Rip City when it hosts the Houston Rockets at the Rose Garden tonight.

Russell Westbrook blocked Nicolas Batum's drive to the hoop in the closing seconds of regulation, then hit the go-ahead basket in overtime, as the Thunder handed the Trail Blazers just their second home loss of the season, 111-107, on Monday

Prior to Westbrook's block, LaMarcus Aldridge was whistled for a controversial goaltending violation on Kevin Durant's layup attempt, tying the game with six seconds remaining.

The NBA announced on Tuesday that Aldridge made a good block and that there shouldn't have been a goaltending call.

"It's tough. We definitely played well enough to win," Aldridge said. "We had some tough calls and then we had some bad bounces late in the game. We have to learn from it."

Portland shot just 1-of-9 from the field in the extra session to fell to 11-2 at the Rose Garden this season. Aldridge led the Blazers with 39 points while Wesley Matthews and Jamal Crawford totaled 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Starting point guard Raymond Felton missed the game against the Thunder with a sprained left foot and is questionable for tonight. Meanwhile, veteran center Marcus Camby was absent from Tuesday's practice with bronchitis but is expected to play.

The Rockets improved to 1-1 on a six-game road trip with a 99-90 win in Denver on Monday. Luis Scola scored 25 points to go with eight rebounds while Kyle Lowry added 20 points and six assists in that one.

Chase Budinger nailed four treys and finished with 16 points for the Rockets, who made 10-of-19 shots from beyond the arc.

"Anytime you can get a win on the road it's huge," Budinger told the Rockets' website.

Houston, which is 4-8 away from South Texas, will also visit Phoenix, Golden State and Memphis on its current trek.

The Rockets have won two straight over the Blazers, including a 107-105 overtime win in Space City back on Jan. 14.






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