A huge matchup at Toyota Center this evening as the Houston Rockets (35-15) take on the Portland Trail Blazers (34-17). Houston is currently 3rd in the Western Conference standings and have won 6 of 7 games. Portland is right behind them in 4th place, but has lost 7 straight on the road.
This will be the Blazers first time seeing the Rockets with Josh Smith. Expect Smith to have the task of slowing down LaMarcus Aldridge who torched Houston in the playoffs last year. Portand won that series 4-2. Smith had a huge game on Friday night against Milwaukee, just missing a triple double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
A win by the Rockets tonight would give them a 3-game lead over Portland, and give them the tiebreaker advantage over the Blazers. A Portland victory would put them only one game behind the Rockets with the final regular season meeting between the teams on March 11 in Portland. So this one is huge tonight.
Notes:
Damian Lillard was named as an All-Star replacement today for Blake Griffin (injury).
The Rockets won the first meeting this season on 110-95 back on Dec. 22. James Harden had 44 points in that contest.
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