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Brooks scores season-high 28 to lead Rockets past Blazers 116-88

Portland 1-1 in NBA Cup West Group A

By The Associated Press

Published: November 22, 2024, 7:53pm

5 Photos

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, right, defends against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Houston, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Photo Gallery

HOUSTON — Dillon Brooks scored a season-high 28 points and led the Houston Rockets to a 116-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA Cup West Group A game on Friday night.

Brooks, the former Oregon Ducks standout, matched a career-high with six 3-pointers on eight attempts, and the Rockets made 15 of 39 (38.5%) from beyond the arc.

Tari Eason scored 22 points off the bench, Jalen Green had 17 and Alperen Sengun added 14 as the Rockets won for the seventh time in eight games. Six of those wins were by double figures. They lead the NBA Cup Group A at 2-0.

For Portland, Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe scores 13 points apiece and Toumani Camara had 11.

Portland, 1-1 in NBA Cup group play, has lost two straight games to open a four-game trip. They previously won three straight at home.

Takeaways

Trail Blazers: Portland was missing two of its five leading scorers in Scoot Henderson, out for the first time with a left quad contusion, and Deandre Ayton, who remained sidelined with a deep contusion in his right index finger.

Rockets: Houston, at 12-5, has outscored opponents by 163 points through 17 games, the highest total through the first 17 games of a season in franchise history. The previous record of 131 was held by the defending champion 1996-97 Rockets, who started the season 15-2.

Key moment

The Rockets were trailing early when Eason checked in and provided a spark, scoring 12 points in an energetic 13 minutes in the first half. Eason finished with a game-best plus-minus of +33 points.

Key stat

Houston outscored Portland 23-7 in fast-break points and generated 28 points off Portland’s 21 turnovers.

Up next

The Trail Blazers and the Rockets will meet again Saturday night in Houston for the second half of a back-to-back.

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ROCKETS 116, BLAZERS 88

PORTLAND (88) — Camara 4-13 0-0 11, Grant 2-6 0-0 5, Clingan 4-7 0-0 9, Sharpe 3-9 6-6 13, Simons 2-7 3-3 8, Avdija 4-9 4-5 13, Murray 4-8 1-2 10, Walker 0-3 0-0 0, Williams III 3-5 1-2 7, Reath 1-3 0-0 2, Banton 0-6 1-2 1, Moore 1-8 1-2 4, Rupert 2-7 0-0 5. Totals 30-91 17-22 88.

HOUSTON (116) — Brooks 10-15 2-4 28, Smith Jr. 2-7 0-0 5, Sengun 7-13 0-1 14, Ja.Green 6-17 2-2 17, VanVleet 0-2 2-2 2, Eason 8-14 5-5 22, Je.Green 2-3 0-0 5, McVeigh 1-2 0-0 3, Tate 0-0 1-2 1, Thompson 3-8 4-7 10, Adams 0-0 1-2 1, Landale 1-1 0-0 2, Holiday 1-5 0-0 3, Sheppard 1-6 0-0 3. Totals 42-93 17-25 116.

Portland	20	25	28	15	—	88
Houston	31	34	31	20	—	116

3-Point Goals—Portland 11-43 (Camara 3-9, Avdija 1-3, Clingan 1-3, Sharpe 1-3, Simons 1-3, Grant 1-4, Moore 1-4, Murray 1-4, Rupert 1-4, Walker 0-1, Reath 0-2, Banton 0-3), Houston 15-39 (Brooks 6-8, Ja.Green 3-10, Je.Green 1-1, McVeigh 1-2, Sheppard 1-3, Smith Jr. 1-3, Eason 1-5, Holiday 1-5, Sengun 0-1, VanVleet 0-1). Rebounds—Portland 45 (Clingan 7), Houston 51 (Thompson 11). Assists—Portland 17 (Grant 5), Houston 27 (VanVleet 8). Total Fouls—Portland 20, Houston 20. A—15,546 (18,500)

Takeaways

Key moment

Key stat

Up next

ROCKETS 116, BLAZERS 88

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