The Portland Trail Blazers were handed their worst loss of the season on Friday, getting blown out by the Houston Rockets 140-116.
The offense was sluggish and the defense struggled to contain the explosive Rockets’ starting lineup. Forward Kevin Durant had 30 points and center Alperen Sengun was one assist shy of a 25-point, 10-rebound triple double.
The loss was so bad, in fact, that Portland held a players-only meeting just minutes after the game.
“Sometimes we’ve got to talk with each other,” star forward Denis Avdija said after the game, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “We’re like family here. And families have to say what’s on their mind.”
After entering the second quarter down nine points, the Trail Blazers made a push right before halftime, cutting the lead to just one point with under three-and-a-half minutes remaining before Houston went on a 13-65 run to enter halftime.
By the midway point in the third quarter, the Trail Blazers found their deficit grow to over 20 points, and the blowout was officially on.