Game 1 Western Conference Quarter Finals: Portland Trailblazers 122, HOUSTON ROCKETS 120

(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

LaMarcus Aldridge pushed the Portland Trailblazers to an epic Game 1 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets, scoring a career-high 46 points along with 18 rebounds.

The Rockets lead 112-106 in overtime and looked to have seized momentum to close the game. However, the Trailblazers wouldn’t go away and hit back-to-back three-pointers to go on an 8-0 run in taking the lead.

Aldridge fouled out with the scores locked at 116-each with a minute remaining in overtime and Jeremy Lin scored at the basket on the subsequent play for the Rockets to reclaim the lead. Damien Lillard responded with his own drive to the basket and converted the free throw before Joel Freeland hit one-of-two free-throws to hold on for a stunning postseason road victory. 

Making the playoffs for the fist time since 2011, it was going to be a difficult task for a young and inexperienced team to play on the road in Houston but the Trailblazers jumped to an early lead and lead 27-20 after the first quarter.

The Rockets took control to lead by 11 but the Trailblazers countered with a 15-5 run to trail 49-48 at halftime. Again, the Rockets jumped to an 86-73 lead in the final quarter. Trailblazers coach, Terry Stotts, employed the Hack-A-Howard strategy that resulted in a 10-0 run to tie the game at 98 with 2:45 remaining. Dwight Howard missed four straight free throws during the run.

Lillard scored 31 points with 9 rebounds including a three-pointer that tied it up at 104-all before James Harden put Houston up with two free throws. Aldridge’s tip-in with 2.9 seconds left tied it again at 106-all and Harden missed the final shot to win the game in regulation.

Howard and Harden finished with 27 points each. Harden struggled early in scoring only 2 points in the first 19 minutes. Chandler Parsons also scored 24 points for the Rockets.

The Rockets had numerous chances to seal the game and will have to recover for Game 2 on Wednesday night. Coach Kevin McHale has to decide whether to limit Aldridge by double-teaming him in the post. Harden will look for a better start and Howard has to avoid foul trouble for the Rockets to tie the series going back to Portland. Although the Trailblazers are young they may struggle without any contribution from their bench who scored only 7 points.