Portland faces Houston on home skid
Houston Rockets (27-35, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (17-44, 14th in the Western Conference)
Portland, Oregon; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Portland aims to break its eight-game home losing streak with a win over Houston.
The Trail Blazers have gone 8-34 against Western Conference opponents. Portland is third in the Western Conference with 12.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Deandre Ayton averaging 3.0.
The Rockets have gone 19-19 against Western Conference opponents. Houston has a 14-24 record against teams over .500.
The Trail Blazers are shooting 44.1% from the field this season, 2.0 percentage points lower than the 46.1% the Rockets allow to opponents. The Rockets average 12.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Trail Blazers allow.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Trail Blazers won 137-131 in overtime in the last matchup on Jan. 25.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jerami Grant is averaging 21.1 points for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.
Jalen Green is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is averaging 21.3 points and 10.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trail Blazers: 2-8, averaging 103.5 points, 43.1 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.7 points per game.
Rockets: 4-6, averaging 109.5 points, 48.5 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.8 points.
INJURIES: Trail Blazers: Toumani Camara: out (illness), Deandre Ayton: out (hand), Malcolm Brogdon: out (elbow), Scoot Henderson: out (abductor), Robert Williams III: out for season (knee), Shaedon Sharpe: out (abdominal).
Rockets: Tari Eason: out for season (leg), Steven Adams: out for season (knee), Jeff Green: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
