Portland takes on Houston, looks for 4th straight victory – Winnipeg Free Press

Houston Rockets (22-11, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (17-20, ninth in the Western Conference)

Portland, Oregon; Wednesday 10:00 pm EST.

BOTTOM LINE: Portland looks to keep its three-game winning streak alive when the Trail Blazers take on Houston.

The Trail Blazers are 14-13 in Western Conference games. Portland ranks second in the Western Conference with 14.3 offensive rebounds per game, ahead of Donovan Clingan's 4.6 average.

The Rockets are 12-10 in conference play. Houston scores 119.4 points and outscores opponents by 8.4 points per game.

The Trail Blazers have averaged 14.2 three-pointers per game this season, an average of 1.6 more than the 12.6 per game the Rockets are allowing. The Rockets have averaged 11.8 three-pointers per game this season, 0.6 fewer than the Trail Blazers are giving up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. On November 15, the Rockets won their last game 140–116, with Kevin Durant scoring 30 points.

TOP PERFORMANCE: Deni Avdija is shooting 46.8 percent and averaging 25.9 points for the Trail Blazers. Shadon Sharpe is averaging 5.0 three-pointers over his last 10 games.

Durant is averaging 25.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 3.0 three-pointers over his last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 111.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents averaged 112.2 points per game.

Rockets: 6-4, averaging 116.1 points, 49.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents averaged 110.5 points.

INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson: out (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle: out (thumb), Jrue Holiday: out (calf), Blake Wesley: out (foot), Jerami Grant: out (Achilles), Damian Lillard: out for the season (Achilles).

Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (ACL), Alperen Sengun: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press generated this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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