• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Resurgent Rockets take on Blazers at Rose Garden

Jan 2, 2011 - 3:40 PM (Sports Network) - The resurgent Houston Rockets kick off a brief two-game road trip in the Pacific Northwest tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Rockets, who will also face Denver on their quick trek, won for the sixth time in seven games on Friday when Chase Budinger led a balanced attack with 22 points and Kevin Martin added 20 as Houston closed out 2010 with a 114-105 victory over Toronto at Toyota Center.

Rookie Patrick Patterson notched his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Luis Scola contributed 13 points and seven boards for the Rockets, who bounced back from Wednesday's loss to Miami. Courtney Lee and Brad Miller added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Houston.

"Our whole bench stepped up," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "Chase (Budinger) has been playing better. He's playing with more confidence and that helps."

Meanwhile, despite receiving some bad news earlier in the same day the Blazers also ended 2010 on an up note, taking a 100-89 decision over Utah on Thursday. Former Jazz player Wesley Matthews tied a career high with 30 points in that one to lead Portland to the victory at the Rose Garden.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting for the Blazers, who have two wins in their last four games -- both against the Jazz but have taken seven straight on their home floor. Andre Miller provided 16 points and 10 assists in the win, while Marcus Camby hauled in 20 rebounds.

"It was a team effort," Matthews said. "That's the only way that you can beat a team like (the Jazz). Every played well together and stepped up tonight."

Before the win, the Blazers announced that All-Star swingman Brandon Roy will be sidelined "indefinitely" with sore knees.

"In the short term, we are going to proceed with an extended period of rest," general manager Rich Cho said in a statement about Roy. "Beyond that, we're looking at all available treatment options to help better determine a course of action."

Portland, which will be aiming to win eight straight at the Rose Garden for the first time since a 12-game streak from Jan. 24-March 9, 2009, has taken three consecutive from Houston in the Pacific Northwest.