Jalen Green’s 27 points leads Rockets over Trail Blazers for 9th straight win

HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green scored 27 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 110-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

It was the Rockets' ninth straight win, their longest winning streak since 2019.

At 36-35, Houston is now just a half game behind Golden State for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

“For sure, I’m looking at it,” Green said of the standings. “I was watching the Warriors last night. We’re making a push, and we’re executing so we’ve just got to stay the course.”

Green entered Monday tied for fourth in the NBA in scoring in March with 27.8 points per game on 51.4% shooting. Against Portland, he made 9 of 26 shots, including 4 of 12 from 3.

“He was kind of forcing it a little bit early and looked a little anxious, but he grinded it out and played the right way,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “It was huge for him to come out in the second half like that.”

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, left, reaches around as Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray dishes off the the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was out, serving a one-game suspension for his Saturday night fight with Jazz guard Kris Dunn. In his place, Jock Landale had a season-high 17 points and added nine rebounds.

“His energy really got us back in the game,” Udoka said. “His energy has been huge lately, and we really needed it tonight with a few guys struggling early.”

Houston outscored Portland 33-20 in the third quarter, taking an 80-71 lead into the fourth after trailing 51-47 at halftime.

Portland suffered its seventh straight loss and fell to 4-13 since the All-Star break.

Dalano Banton led the Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while Scoot Henderson added 15 points.

“We need to keep our defensive intensity up,” Henderson said. “That’s going to give us a chance every night — defensive intensity, moving the ball and just making the game easier for ourselves and not trying to one-on-one the whole game because we can’t win like that.”

In Saturday night’s loss to Denver, Portland became the second team to start five rookies since NBA box scores started tracking starters in the 1971-72 season. The Blazers started the same five rookies on Monday night.

Portland briefly held a nine-point lead in the first quarter but entered the second quarter down 28-25.

Houston Rockets center Jock Landale reacts after sinking a 3-point shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

“I thought we had a really good first half and had some good moments in that third quarter, but the game kind of turned,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “They picked up their defensive pressure, and we just didn’t respond well to it. Give them credit. They turned it up when they needed to, defensively, against a young group.”

The Blazers were missing Deandre Ayton (left elbow tendinitis), Anfernee Simons (left knee tendinitis), Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow tendinitis) and Jerami Grant (right hamstring strain).

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Rockets: Visit Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

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Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, looks to drive around Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, front, loses his footing and falls into Portland Trail Blazers guard Rayan Rupert, back, as they chase a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton (5) goes up to pass the ball between Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, left, and center Jock Landal (2), during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath, left, and Houston Rockets center Jock Landale battle for the opening tip off during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Rockets center Jock Landale, right, passes the ball in front of Portland Trail Blazers center Moses Brown during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (8) pulls down a rebound between Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, left, and forward Amen Thompson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

DALLAS (AP) — Paul George and James Harden are two-for-two without Kawhi Leonard in the Los Angeles Clippers' first-round playoff series against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.

The healthy LA stars can afford to shrug over the blown 31-point lead in Game 4.

George and Harden each scored 33 points while playing key fourth-quarter roles to help the Clippers hold off a huge rally fueled mostly by Irving for a 116-111 victory Sunday to even the first-round series at 2-2.

“We knew they would make a run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But also, we didn’t think we’d come into this building and be up 31 points either. So I told our team, just get the win, however you've got to get it. In the playoffs, it don’t matter how you win.”

Leonard was out with right knee inflammation again after missing the series opener, then playing in both Dallas victories. The Clippers aren't sure he'll make it back for the third Western Conference first-round meeting between these teams in the past five seasons.

The teams have split a pair on each other’s home court. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Irving scored 40 points for Dallas, including an acrobatic layup with 2:15 remaining for a 105-104 lead that was the first for the Mavericks since the middle of the first quarter.

Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth career playoff triple-double — all against the Clippers — while clearly struggling with right knee soreness that had him questionable until he warmed up before the game.

“He did everything he could,” coach Jason Kidd said. “I thought he competed on both ends. He put us in position to take the lead there in the fourth. We just came up short.”

George scored 26 points in the first half, when the Clippers' lead reached 55-24 on a 3-pointer by Harden. The high-scoring stars combined to go 11 of 15 from long range as LA finished 18 of 29 overall.

After Irving's go-ahead layup, George hit his first basket of the second half, a fadeaway 3 from the corner. Irving missed a layup, and Harden converted a three-point play for a 110-105 lead. The 10-time All-Star scored 15 points in the fourth, hitting five of his well-known floaters that were mostly absent in the first three games.

This is part of why the Clippers added Harden in an early-season trade, giving them another option with a star such as Leonard sidelined.

“I’m blessed to be able to change it up and be a facilitator or a scorer,” Harden said. “My mindset coming to this team was doing whatever it takes to win and get to the end goal. Whether that's scoring or facilitating, I think it goes possession by possession and game by game.”

The Clippers tied a franchise playoff record for a quarter with eight 3s in the first, and George had three of them while scoring his playoff first-quarter high with 16 points to match the Mavericks and help build a 39-16 lead.

Harden’s 3 for the 31-point lead midway through the second quarter came not long after Doncic was called for a technical foul coming down the court when his miss dropped Dallas to 0-11 from long range..

It was almost a replay of Game 1, when the Leonard-less Clippers led by 26 at halftime and 29 early in the third quarter. Minus the massive rally, although Dallas did whittle the deficit in the second half of the opener.

“This is like Game 1,” Kidd said. “Early game, for whatever reason we just haven’t played well. We’ve gotten off to slow starts. That’s just something that we’ve got to talk about as a team. If there’s another afternoon game, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go from the jump and we can’t wait.”

Irving hit the next two 3s for Dallas, and the rally was on. He scored 16 in the second quarter and kept it going in the third, finishing those two quarters with 26 after a scoreless first. Dallas trailed by four entering the fourth quarter.

“We dug ourselves in a hole,” Irving said. “There's no time to complain about it or look to each other for any excuses. It was just time to get it going. Fell short, but this is a consistent thing in this series so far where Kawhi doesn't play and we're just dealing with a barrage of James Harden and Paul George getting off.”

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, argues a call with a referee, right, during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) steps back in front of Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) follows through on a 3-point basket as Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) looks on during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden looks to pass as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving defends during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington , left, and center Dereck Lively II (2) during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13), guard Terance Mann (14) and guard Norman Powell (24) celebrate after a basket during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum, front left, shoots over Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives past Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green, front right, during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) shoots a 3-point basket during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts after a call during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington dunks the ball as Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee (44), Mavericks' center Daniel Gafford (21) and Clippers' guard James Harden look on during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George gestures to the crowd after shooting a 3-point basket during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)