Game ID: 22300623
Portland Trail Blazers @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
HOU 31 32 33 28 7 131POR 30 27 41 26 13 137
HOU vs POR ScoutingHOU vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 25 min since (81% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 12 min since (88% of 14)
NEW Smith Jr. 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 2 days' restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 32 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/21 · back-to-backOUT Landale missed 2 since 1/17, returns tonight: 11 min (80% of 14)
BACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 33 min since (106% of 31)
HOU availability going into 1/24 · 2 days' restBACK Brooks back 1/13 after 9, 34 min since (111% of 31)
BACK Landale back 1/13 after 4, 11 min since (78% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Landale back 1/21 after 2, 12 min since (89% of 14)
NEW Sengun 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Je. Green 17 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Landale back 1/21 after 2, 13 min since (97% of 14)
NEW Je. Green 17 to 23 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 1/21, returns tonight: 36 min (113% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/21 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NEW Je. Green 17 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 1/29 after 4, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Landale back 1/21 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NEW Holiday 16 to 23 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 1/17 · 2 days' restOUT Sharpe missed 2 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 11 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 31 min since (130% of 24)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 13 min since (117% of 11)
NEW Reath 18 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 16 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 3 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 12 since 12/26, returns tonight: 30 min (93% of 32)
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 30 min since (129% of 24)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 13 min since (117% of 11)
NEW Reath 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 17 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 4 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 1/17, returns tonight: 6 min (38% of 16)
BACK Ayton back 1/19 after 12, 30 min since (93% of 32)
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 33 min since (140% of 24)
NEW Reath 18 to 26 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 5 since 1/12, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/19 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 32)
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 31 min since (131% of 24)
BACK Rupert back 1/21 after 2, 6 min since (38% of 16)
NEW Reath 18 to 26 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/24 · back-to-backOUT Sharpe missed 6 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/19 after 12, 27 min since (82% of 32)
BACK Rupert back 1/21 after 2, 6 min since (38% of 16)
NEW Brogdon 29 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Walker 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Reath 18 to 25 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 7 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 1/23, returns tonight: 17 min (80% of 22)
OUT Rupert missed 2 since 1/23, returns tonight: 8 min (52% of 16)
OUT Minaya missed 3 since 1/21, returns tonight: 22 min (196% of 11)
OUT Badji missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Moore missed 2 since 1/23, returns tonight: 1 min (12% of 10)
BACK Ayton back 1/19 after 12, 30 min since (93% of 32)
NEW Brogdon 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 24 to 30 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 8 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 3 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/19 after 12, 31 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Murray back 1/26 after 2, 17 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Rupert back 1/21 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 1/26 after 3, 22 min since (196% of 11)
BACK Moore back 1/26 after 2, 1 min since (12% of 10)
NEW Brogdon 29 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Walker 24 to 32 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Sharpe missed 9 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 4 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Murray back 1/26 after 2, 17 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Rupert back 1/21 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 1/26 after 3, 22 min since (196% of 11)
BACK Moore back 1/26 after 2, 1 min since (12% of 10)
NEW Brogdon 29 to 37 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 10 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Badji missed 5 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Murray back 1/26 after 2, 13 min since (59% of 22)
BACK Rupert back 1/26 after 2, 7 min since (41% of 16)
BACK Moore back 1/26 after 2, 3 min since (30% of 10)
NEW Brogdon 29 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Walker 24 to 30 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Brooks at 15 a game. 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grant at 26 and Brogdon at 22 a game. Without Sharpe (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 40 percent from three to Houston's 29 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-1 a night and Houston minus-3. Call it Houston 117, Portland 111.
1/15 @ PHI 115-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-124. HOU shot 50% (44 of 88) to PHI's 48%, 8 of 27 from three. Ja. Green led with 20 (7 of 16, 1 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Sengun added 19, Brooks 18. Q4 was theirs, 38-26, the deficit cut from 21 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Je. Green's -30 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/17 @ NYK 94-109 — HOU notes
HOU lost 94-109. HOU shot 42% (35 of 84) to NYK's 45%, 8 of 30 from three. The glass went 38-51 against them. VanVleet led with 24 (8 of 19, 5 of 12 from three); Sengun added 18, Ja. Green 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-23, but the other 3 periods went 86-69 against them. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/20 vs UTA 127-126 — HOU notes
HOU won 127-126 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 43% (50 of 117) to UTA's 46%, 13 of 39 from three. HOU turned it over 7 times to UTA's 17. Sengun led with 37 (15 of 26, 6 of 10 at the line); Smith Jr. added 24, VanVleet 18. The hinge was Q1, 31-24: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 17.
1/21 vs BOS 107-116 — HOU notes
HOU lost 107-116. HOU shot 44% (41 of 94) to BOS's 44%, 10 of 35 from three. Brooks led with 25 (8 of 22, 5 of 15 from three); Sengun added 24, Green 16. Q3 was theirs, 25-20, the deficit cut from 15 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 96-82 against them. Whitmore's -15 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/24 vs POR 131-137 — HOU notes
HOU lost 131-137 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 53% (50 of 94) to POR's 51%, 12 of 36 from three. The glass went 37-48 against them. Sengun led with 30 (11 of 17, 7 of 8 at the line); Ja. Green added 29, VanVleet 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-27, but the other 4 periods went 110-99 against them. They led by as many as 13. Je. Green's -11 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/26 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 23 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 26 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 39 percent from three to Houston's 31 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-0 a night and Houston minus-6. Call it Charlotte 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
1/27 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Thomas at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Simmons (37 straight), Clowney (13 straight), Wilson (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 24 and Ja. Green at 21 a game. Without Smith Jr. (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Houston's 118 and the line, where Houston takes 23 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 16. Call it Brooklyn 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/29 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 21 a game. Without Smith Jr. (4 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 129, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 28 and Russell at 28 a game. Without Reddish (2 straight), Vincent (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 42 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the defense, Houston allowing 118 a night to the Lakers' 129. Call it Houston 121, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/31 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 27 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Ingram at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 116 a night to New Orleans's 123. Call it Houston 119, New Orleans 114.
1/17 vs BKN 105-103 — POR notes
POR won 105-103. POR shot 49% (42 of 86) to BKN's 48%, 9 of 27 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 27. Grant led with 30 (14 of 26, 2 of 4 from three); Simons added 20, Reath 17. The hinge was Q4, 31-20: POR came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 2. POR trailed 51-52 at the half and won the second half 54-51. Grant was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/19 vs IND 118-115 — POR notes
POR won 118-115. POR shot 50% (42 of 84) to IND's 43%, 4 of 12 from three, and went to the line 35 times to IND's 25 — 30 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 47-37 for them. Grant led with 37 (14 of 28, 1 of 4 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Brogdon added 30, Walker 13. The hinge was Q2, 30-22: a lead of 3 became 11. Reath was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/21 @ LAL 110-134 — POR notes
POR lost 110-134. POR shot 47% (42 of 90) to LAL's 55%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAL's 29. The glass went 35-45 against them. Brogdon led with 23 (8 of 17, 3 of 4 from three); Simons added 19, Grant 17. Q3 was theirs, 33-36, but the other 3 periods went 98-77 against them. Walker's -30 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/23 @ OKC 109-111 — POR notes
POR lost 109-111. POR shot 43% (37 of 86) to OKC's 48%, 18 of 39 from three, and got to the line 21 times to OKC's 28. POR turned it over 19 times to OKC's 12, and OKC turned those into 9 steals. Henderson led with 19 (7 of 18, 2 of 6 from three); Brogdon added 18, Grant 18. Q2 was theirs, 38-20, turning a 10-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 91-71 against them.
1/24 @ HOU 137-131 — POR notes
POR won 137-131 in 1 overtime. POR shot 51% (50 of 98) to HOU's 53%, 15 of 35 from three. The glass went 48-37 for them. Simons led with 33 (13 of 20, 4 of 9 from three); Grant added 21, Brogdon 19. The hinge was Q3, 41-33: POR came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 2. POR trailed 57-63 at the half and won the second half 80-68. Grant was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/26 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 27 and Vassell at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grant at 25 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Sharpe (7 straight), Murray (2 straight), Rupert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-6 and the defense, Portland allowing 119 a night to San Antonio's 128. Call it San Antonio 118, Portland 117, Portland keeping it close.
1/28 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Brogdon at 22 a game. Without Sharpe (8 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; White at 22 and DeRozan at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Craig (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-7 a night and Portland minus-2 and the defense, Chicago allowing 114 a night to Portland's 121. Call it Chicago 115, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.
1/29 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Brogdon at 19 a game. Without Sharpe (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 30 free throws a game; Embiid at 42 and Maxey at 22 a game. Without Harris (2 straight), Melton (7 straight), Covington (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to Philadelphia's 9 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 30 free throws a game to Portland's 23. Call it Philadelphia 118, Portland 111.
1/31 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 23 and Brogdon at 19 a game. Without Sharpe (10 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Milwaukee 117, Portland 115, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
PORAS A. Simons
DA D. Ayton
DR D. Reath
JG J. Grant
JW J. Walker
MB M. Brogdon
MT M. Thybulle
SH S. Henderson
TC T. Camara
HOU/POR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Anfernee Simons scores 33 points as Trail Blazers rally to beat Rockets 137-131 in overtime
HOUSTON -- — Anfernee Simons scored 33 points and Jerami Grant added 21 as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Houston Rockets 137-131 in overtime on Wednesday night.
“So many great efforts and I’m just proud of our guys,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said.
Portland opened overtime with a 9-2 run, with five points from Malcolm Brogdon , to take a 133-126 lead with about two minutes left in the extra session.
The Rockets got a free throw from Alperen Sengun and a layup from Fred VanVleet to cut the lead to four points with less than a minute left in OT.
But Deandre Ayton tipped in a shot with 10 seconds remaining to give Portland a 135-129 lead, and the Trail Blazers held on for the win.
Brogdon had 19 points and Ayton added 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who snapped a two-game skid.
“Malcolm is just Mr. Reliable for us,” Billups said. “He makes shots when we need it. ... He makes plays when we need it. He just does it all for us. He’s a savvy veteran who can impact games.”
Sengun had 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Jalen Green scored 29 as the Rockets dropped a second straight game.
“This was a game we should have won tonight,” Green said. “But things happen, and we've got to bounce back.”
Brogdon hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to a point with 3 seconds to go in regulation. Aaron Holiday made two free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining to push Houston’s lead to 124-121.
But Grant forced overtime when he hit an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“The shot was incredible that he hit,” Billups said. “Great players make coaches look good. He hit a heck of a shot. He just rose up and knocked it down.”
Portland used a 6-0 run, with the last four points from Ayton, to take a 116-114 lead with 2½ minutes remaining in the fourth.
Houston trailed by two points before Sengun made a basket and then got a steal at the other end. Green made a layup to put Houston on top before the Rockets forced another turnover.
Sengun added another bucket after that to put the Rockets up 120-116 with about 90 seconds to go.
Brogdon made a basket for before Sengun scored again, giving Houston a 122-118 advantage with less than a minute left.
“We've just got to guard better,” VanVleet said. “Our defense wasn't very good.”
VanVleet added 18 points with seven assists and six rebounds for the Rockets in his return after missing a game with lower back tightness. Jabari Smith Jr. sat out for a second straight game for Houston with a sprained left ankle.