----- Jusuf Nurkic scores 22 points and pulls down 10 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers finish their four-game road trip at 3-1 with a 104-85 win over the Houston Rockets Tuesday night at Moda Center in Houston, TX.
The Rockets were short-handed on Tuesday night and the Blazers made them pay. With James Harden out of the lineup, Portland built a 15-point halftime lead on their way to a 104-85 win Tuesday night at Toyota Center in Houston, TX.
Jusuf Nurkic led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds on 7-for-10 shooting. Damian Lillard matched Nurkic with 22 points and CJ McCollum finished with 19 points. Thanks to Nurkic, the Blazers controlled the paint with a 48-38 edge.
Portland (5-2) connected on 47.5% of their field goals including 8-for-20 from three-point range. Nik Stauskas led all bench scorers with 10 points.
The Blazers pulled away with a 23-8 run during the final 5:38 of the second quarter to take a 51-36 halftime lead and extended the lead to 62-39 with an 11-3 run to open the third quarter.
The Blazers now return home for a six-game home stand that begins with the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night followed by back to back games at Moda Center on Saturday and Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Houston (1-5) got 17 points and nine assists from Chris Paul, but as a team they struggled from the field connecting on just 32.3% of their shots including an abysmal 10-for-43 from three-point range.
The Rockets will begin a season-long five-game road trip Friday in Brooklyn against the Nets.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers return home to meet the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday night at Moda Center. Game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM.
Chad's Take- If hating the Rockets is wrong, I don't want to be right.