Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Final Score: Houston 95 - Portland 86

Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Tracy McGrady scored 35 points to lead the Houston Rockets in a 95-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Aaron Brooks added 12 points for the Rockets, who halted a two-game skid and sit in a tie with the Phoenix Suns for fifth in the Western Conference and are 2 1/2 games behind New Orleans for the top spot in the Southwest Division. Dikembe Mutombo, Bobby Jackson and Luther Head each gave 11 points in the victory, Houston's 50th of the season.

LaMarcus Aldridge ended with 23 points for the Blazers, who have dropped four in a row and are out of playoff contention. Jarrett Jack chipped in 19 points and Travis Outlaw 14. Steve Blake and Channing Frye totaled 12 points apiece. Joel Przybilla tallied 15 rebounds and six points.

Aldridge's three-point play brought Portland within one, 23-22, heading into the second stanza.

A Mutombo tip-in sparked a 14-4 run that gave the Rockets a 50-34 lead. A McGrady three, followed by a Head layup, closed out the surge with about 2 1/2 minutes to play before the half.

The Blazers closed out the half on a 9-2 run to cut their deficit to 52-43 at the intermission.

Two Przybilla free throws, a Blake jumper and a Jack three-point play put the Blazers up 59-58 just past the midway point of the third quarter.

Nine McGrady points highlighted a 14-0 Houston run that closed the third quarter and sent the Rockets into the final 12 minutes of play ahead 74-63.

A Frye jumper brought the Blazers within seven, 77-70, with a bit under 8 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Moments later, a Brooks jumper and a McGrady three-point play opened an 86-74 Rockets advantage.

The Blazers failed to close within the final deficit down the stretch.

"It's really frustrating when you can play your heart out and build some momentum like we did at the beginning of the third quarter and then in a two or three-minute stretch you lose your focus and momentum," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said.