Fourth-quarter comeback! Yang Hanssen records 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist; Avdija scores 20; KD posts a big double-double in vain as the Trail Blazers extend their winning streak against the Rockets

On January 10th Beijing time, in the NBA regular season, the Trail Blazers played at home against the Rockets. Durant continued his strong performance, Yang Hanssen played a fair amount but was average, and Avdija had a cold shooting night. The Trail Blazers staged a big rally in the last quarter and finished the game with a 111-105 victory over the Rockets for back-to-back wins.

Statistical summary:

Rockets: Durant 30 points 12 rebounds, Smith 13 points, Amen 22 points, Shepard 20 points

Trail Blazers: Yang Hanssen 2 points 1 rebound 1 assist, Avdija 20 points, Kamara 25 points, Klingen 8 points 15 rebounds 6 assists, Sharp 20 points 8 rebounds, Love 18 points

Game progression:

At the start of the first quarter, Kamara opened the scoring with a dunk, then the Rockets responded with a 9-3 run to take the lead, while Sisoko answered with a three-pointer. Both teams remained tightly contested, with the score difficult to separate. The Trail Blazers finally found their rhythm, going on a 5-0 run to widen the gap, but Durant managed a tough basket to stop the bleeding. The Rockets kept chipping away at the Blazers’ lead, and the quarter ended tied at 28. During this period, Yang Hanssen entered the game, and the camera showed his previously injured upper arm had scabbed over. In the last minute, Adams drew a foul on Yang Hanssen who made one of two free throws for 1 point. After the first quarter, the Rockets led 29-28 by 1 point.

In the second quarter, Yang Hanssen remained on the court. Although he contributed little offensively, his defense was very active, and the Trail Blazers went on an 8-2 run to retake the lead. Eason scored a layup to stop the bleeding, and Yang Hanssen was subbed out shortly after. The teams then engaged in a prolonged back-and-forth battle with alternating leads and low shooting percentages. The score went from 39-all to 48-all, then 55-all. Amen replicated his late first-quarter performance by making one of two free throws. At halftime, the Rockets still held a slim 56-55 lead over the Trail Blazers.

Early in the third quarter, the battle remained close until Durant hit a three-pointer, surpassing Chamberlain to move into seventh place on the all-time scoring list. The momentum shifted dramatically as the Rockets unleashed a 14-2 run to quickly build a large lead. Yang Hanssen also saw playing time, assisting Love on a three-pointer to halt the run. The Rockets then scored another 4 points, pushing the lead into double digits. At the end of the third, the Rockets led 90-77, ahead by 13 points.

In the decisive fourth quarter, Yang Hanssen stayed on the floor, making a two-point basket and consistently setting solid screens. The Trail Blazers went on an 11-0 run, cutting the deficit to just 2 points. At a critical moment, Durant hit a mid-range jumper to stop the bleeding, but then Yang Hanssen committed a turnover that Shepard stole and converted into a dunk. After Yang was subbed out, the Trail Blazers maintained their momentum, scoring two small runs to take the lead. In a key moment, Smith drew a foul on Sisoko during a three-point attempt; Durant angrily threw down a water bottle, and the Trail Blazers capitalized by extending their lead to 4 points. The Rockets tried fouling late but failed to catch up. The game ended with the Trail Blazers defeating the Rockets 111-105.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Rockets: Amen Thompson, Durant, Adams, Smith, Eason

Trail Blazers: Avdija, Klingen, Sisoko, Kamara, Sharp