Houston, we may have a problem
HOUSTON — Two-time NBA champions Houston Rockets are in danger of missing the semi-finals of the NBA Western Conference playoffs after LaMarcus Aldridge scored 43 points and Damian Lillard made six free throws down the stretch to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 112-105 victory over the Rockets and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
HOUSTON — Two-time NBA champions Houston Rockets are in danger of missing the semi-finals of the NBA Western Conference playoffs after LaMarcus Aldridge scored 43 points and Damian Lillard made six free throws down the stretch to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 112-105 victory over the Rockets and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
James Harden knocked down a 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left to get the Rockets within three.
Lillard made two free throws before Harden fouled out about 10 seconds later.
Mo Williams and Lillard both made a pair of free throws after that to secure the win.
Aldridge became the first player with consecutive 40-point games in the playoffs since LeBron James did it in May 2009 after scoring a career-high and franchise playoff-record 46 in an overtime win in Game 1.
Dwight Howard scored 25 points in the first half, but managed just seven in the second half for Houston.
“We don’t have our same flow, our same mojo that we had throughout the season,” Harden was quoted as saying by ESPN. “We don’t have our same swag ... we’ve got to get that back.”
Results of Wednesday’s* other NBA playoff games:
Miami 101 Charlotte 97 (Miami lead the best-of-seven series 2-0)
Dallas 113 San Antonio 92 (The best-of-seven series is level at 1-1)
* Yesterday morning, Singapore time
Today’s fixtures**: Toronto v Brooklyn, Chicago v Washington, Houston v Portland