Portland Trail Blazer fans were impressed by the team as they were able to register an impressive win last night. They managed to upend the Houston Rockets by a score of 123-120 in surprising fashion. The game ended on an exciting note, since both teams found themselves in overtime. The Blazers were able to eke out the victory through their late defensive play and the contribution of some important players. This helped the Blazers take another step towards advancing to the next round of the playoffs. This series has proven to be a tough test for the Blazers, but their players are performing admirably.

This home game victory has enabled the Blazers to take a 3-1 lead in the series against the Houston Rockets. LaMarcus Aldridge was able to contribute to the play of the team in a few key areas. Aldridge actually scored 29 points and added another 10 rebounds, which helped the team throughout the game. Nicolas Batum was also able to post 25 points for the team, adding to their offensive performance. This is the first time that the Blazers have held a 3-1 lead in a playoff series since 2000. Fans have had high expectations of their team this season, which has helped them going forward.

The Houston Rockets had some stand out performances in their own right, which added to the overall effectiveness of the team. James Harden was a driving force for the offense of the team, since he was able to net 28 points for the Rockets throughout the course of the night. But Dwight Howard proved to be an invaluable component for the Rockets as well. Howard actually registered 25 points for the club, rounding out their offense. His 14 rebounds also helped the team control the glass for long periods, though it wasn’t enough to stem the tide of the game.

The win came at an important time for the Blazers, since the franchise had recently mourned the loss of their former coach Dr. Jack Ramsey. Dr. Ramsay had previously guided the Blazers to their NBA championship during the course of 1977. He had coached 20 seasons in the NBA and had also served as an analyst for ESPN during his career. Dr. Ramsay had been coping with cancer for well over a decade, but he had continued to enjoy his life. He finally passed away in Naples recently at the age of 89.

Image © Portland Trail Blazers

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