Led by Anfernee Simons (game-high 32 points, 52.4% FG) and perennial All-Star guard Damian Lillard (25 points, 10 assists), the visiting Portland Trail Blazers easily had enough to hold off the Houston Rockets on Saturday at Toyota Center, 107-95 (box score).
The Rockets made just 3-of-29 from 3-point range (10.3%) as a team, with starting guards Jalen Green (15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Kevin Porter Jr. (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) each going 0-of-6 from long range. Green entered shooting just 24.7% on 3-pointers over his previous 14 games, and that trend picked up more steam in an uncompetitive home loss to Portland (17-13).
By contrast, over his first 14 games of the 2022-23 NBA season, Green had shot 37.5% on 3-pointers for the Rockets.
Houston’s lone bright spots came off the bench in young forwards KJ Martin (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Tari Eason (13 points, 6 rebounds), who combined to make 12-of-23 shots (52.2%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction following Saturday’s game. Houston (9-20) plays the fifth game of its longest homestand of the season (seven games in total) on Monday night versus San Antonio, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.
FINAL: Blazers 107, Rockets 95.
Rockets were 3-of-29 from deep, their worst 3-point percentage of the season (10.3%) and tied for their fewest 3-point makes.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) December 18, 2022
Tari’s a much better rebounder, but offensively they are very similar (prime Corey btw, not end of his Rockets tenure Corey)
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) December 18, 2022
Tyty is able to play at a fast pace while also staying in control, something that’s been lacking in Rockets PG play, specifically Nix.
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) December 18, 2022
Tonight is another example of why the #Rockets need to reassess their overall approach to play style because running things primarily behind 2 (currently) inefficient guards who shoot most of the team’s shots on a nightly basis is an easy recipe to lose
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 18, 2022
More Green on his shot: ” You’re gonna have your slumps, it’s just a matter of if you’re gonna get out of it and keep your same mindset and keep going.” https://t.co/wo7niYNi7x
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 18, 2022
Jalen Green on the third quarter: “Energy dropped bad. We were just playing street ball out there. We weren’t playing together anymore, we didn’t have any fight, just an energy drop.”
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 18, 2022
Jalen Green: “The ball is just stagnant. I think we play our best when we’re moving the ball, get the defense shifted and then make our attack.”
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 18, 2022
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