LOS ANGELES \u2013 The first contest of the two-game set between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers featured a wild ending. The rematch on Jan 9 (Jan 10 morning, Singapore time) will likely include a memorable milestone. <\/p>\n
The Trail Blazers will look to complete the sweep of the Rockets two nights after a tip-in by Houston\u2019s Tari Eason as time expired was waved off, giving Portland a dramatic 103-102 victory.<\/p>\n
Kevin Durant missed a jumper with 0.8sec remaining and Eason made a stellar play to be in position to tap the rebound into the net.<\/p>\n
But while the Rockets started to celebrate, the officiating crew went to the monitor to review the play.<\/p>\n
And the replays displayed that the ball was on Eason\u2019s fingertips when the red light on the backboard came on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like we won the game,\u201d Eason said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t but it felt like it. I was excited because we fought through the adversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know we\u2019re going to bounce back and be a better team on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija scored 41 points \u2013 the second-most of his career as they won their fourth straight game \u2013 and he initially felt that bad feeling in his stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoller coaster, emotional roller coaster,\u201d Avdija said. \u201cSometimes you\u2019ve got to win ugly… We were able to get the win, we stayed together, we stayed composed and we beat a very, very good team. We\u2019ve got to come back and do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn\u2019t mince words on the game-deciding call.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was probably on his fingertip, as close as could be,\u201d Udoka said. \u201cYou mess around for 3\u00bd quarters, the basketball gods will be against you at times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Durant is in line for a memorable outing from an individual standpoint.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old has topped 20 points in 12 straight appearances and needs just 15 points to pass legendary Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and move into seventh place on the all-time scoring list.<\/p>\n
He said they need to shoot better in the rematch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe generated good looks,\u201d Durant said after Houston lost for the second time in seven games. \u201cIf you look at the stat sheet, everything else was better (except shooting).\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rockets held a commanding 57-38 rebounding advantage, including 24 offensive boards, but the shooting was trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe decided to play the last half of the fourth quarter,\u201d Udoka said of a game the Rockets never led in the second half. \u201cYou\u2019re shooting 37 per cent from the field, 22 per cent from 3 and 69 per cent from the free-throw line. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you make shots, it\u2019s a different game, but our defensive discipline and following the game plan, it was the worst night. … We were really poor for 3\u00bd quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avdija operated at will on Jan 7 and made 13 of 24 from the field \u2013 two of nine from three-point range \u2013 and 13 of 15 from the free-throw line. <\/p>\n
He has inserted his name into the All-Star discussion with a stellar season that includes averages of 26.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.0 assists. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to be a star. He\u2019s a star now,\u201d Durant said. \u201cHis biggest threat is getting downhill to the free-throw line. I think that is opening up his game.\u201d<\/p>\n
In NBA action on Jan 8, Pascal Siakam, who scored a team-high 30 points, hit the winning shot with 11.5sec left as the Indiana Pacers beat hosts Charlotte Hornets 114-112 at Spectrum Center.<\/p>\n
In the process, last season\u2019s NBA finalists, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference on 7-31, snapped a 13-game losing streak and gave coach Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career coaching victory.<\/p>\n
In Minneapolis, Julius Randle scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 131-122 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n
After notching their fourth consecutive win, Minnesota (25-13) are fourth in the Western Conference, which is led by Oklahoma City Thunder (31-7). <\/p>\n
The Cavaliers are eighth in the East on 21-18, one spot behind Miami Heat (20-17), whose match against Chicago Bulls was postponed at the 11th hour because of an unplayable court at the United Center \u201cdue to moisture on the floor rendering the court unplayable\u201d.<\/p>\n
The United Center is also home to the Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey team, who played at the venue on Jan 7 and have another fixture at the arena two days later. REUTERS<\/p>\n
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