Blazers win second game of back-to-back with Rockets

Anfernee Simons hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 28.7 seconds remaining and the Portland Trail Blazers claimed the second game of a back-to-back with the host Houston Rockets 104-98 on Saturday.

Simons finished with a team-high 25 points to help Portland survive a wild fourth quarter that included six ties and four lead changes. Simons answered a layup by Amen Thompson with one of his own to tie the game at 96-96 lead with 1:03 remaining.

After Deni Avdija rejected a shot by Rockets center Alperen Sengun on the ensuing Houston possession, Simons delivered his fourth 3-pointer to give Portland its final lead.

Shaedon Sharpe added 24 points, including two free throws that extended the lead to five with 4.3 seconds left.

Jerami Grant scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half while, Avdija added 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Rookie Donovan Clingan grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds as the Trail Blazers finished with a 53-43 advantage on the glass.

After beating Portland by 28 points on Friday, the Rockets shot just 35.6 percent in the rematch.

Sengun posted 22 points while Thompson added 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench. But the starting backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green shot a combined 7 for 27, including 1 of 15 from behind the arc, while Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason totaled 17 points on 5-for-18 shooting after combining for 50 points on Friday.

The Trail Blazers fashioned another fast start into an early lead but, unlike Friday when Houston seized control later in the opening quarter, Portland fended off the Rockets' rally.

After Houston pulled even at 12-12 on Thompson's corner 3-pointer, Grant and Simons combined for seven points to help the Trail Blazers reclaim their edge. Grant scored 10 points as Portland carried a 26-21 lead into the second and, when Reed Sheppard drilled consecutive treys to pull the Rockets to within two, Grant responded with a 3-pointer and Sharpe added a layup.

Grant hit a pair of free throws with 4:25 left in the half, giving Portland a 44-35 lead. With Brooks and VanVleet saddled with foul trouble, the Rockets turned to Sengun to slice the margin to 52-50 at the half, with Sengun recording three free throws, two assists and a three-point play over the final three-plus minutes.

--Field Level Media