NBA Playoffs - Rockets avoid elimination with Game 5 win
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 May 2014
CHICAGO -- Facing elimination in round one of the playoffs, the Houston Rockets returned to the safe refuge of home court and lived another day by beating the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night.
All-Star big man Dwight Howard scored 22 points and 14 rebounds, James Harden added 17, and Jeremy Lin sprang powered the bench with 21 as the Rockets grabbed Game 5, 108-98, at the Toyota Center.
Chandler Parsons finished with 20 and Omer Asik had a huge 10-point, 15-rebound effort for Houston, which out-rebounded the Blazers 48-34. The Rockets built a 17-point lead in the opening half and staved off a torrid Blazers rally by outscoring Portland in the fourth quarter for the first time in the series.
Wesley Matthews guided the Blazers with 27 while point guard Damian Lillard had an all-around 26 points, 8 assists and 7 boards. Robin Lopez chipped in 17 and 8 rebounds but LaMarcus Aldridge was held to 8 points on 3-for-12 shooting.
Despite their Game 5 triumph, the Rockets still trail the best-of-7 affair 3-2 and the Blazers will go for the clincher in Game 6 Friday night (Saturday AM in Manila) at the Moda Center in Portland. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: Jeremy Lin of the Linsanity fame powered the Rockets bench with 21 points as Houston beat Portland in Game 5 Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
Wed, 17 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
Wed, 17 Sep 2025Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 17 Sep 2025Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 15 Sep 2025