NBA Scores Western Conference Playoffs: Houston Rockets Use Big Second Quarter to Bury Portland Trail Blazers, Take Series

Yao Ming scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Aaron Brooks added 13 points and 5 boards and Ron Artest finished with 27 points as the Houston Rockets cruised to a 92-76 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers to win their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series 4-2 and will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.

Portland looked strong in the opening frame and held a 15-11 advantage with 10 of those points coming from LaMarcus Aldridge but Artest was equally impressive and his 12 point quarter helped the Rockets carry a 21-19 lead into the second. Things quickly got out of hand for the Blazers as the Rockets started the quarter on a 13-2 run that boosted their lead to 34-21. Portland managed to stay within range of the Rockets but after an Artest jumper, a Yao bucket and then a triple from Artest the Rockets lead was up to 17 before Brandon Roy ended the half for Portland with a jumper to leave the score at 52-37 at the break.

While the Blazers began to shoot slightly better in the third quarter Houston wouldn’t open the door for a comeback as they constantly answered a Portland spurt with one of their own and eventually pushed their lead up to 20 before settling for a 74-56 lead heading into the fourth. Portland had an opportunity to cut into their deficit in the final frame as the Rockets didn’t score for the first four minutes but the Blazers only managed five points and when Houston found their range it got ugly once again.

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