The Portland Trail Blazers took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter but could not hold off a hard-charging Houston squad in a 106-99 road loss Friday night.
The Rockets reeled off 15 straight points to retake the lead, building a double-digit margin as the clock ticked under four minutes to play.
Portland made one final run when Robert Williams III scored a second-chance bucket, and Matisse Thybulle hit a 3-pointer. Jerami Grant swiped a steal, and got loose on a 2-on-1 fastbreak, but Blazers turnovers prevented Portland from making it a one-possession game.
The Blazers fizzled down the stretch, shooting only 7-for-21 (33.3%) in the fourth quarter, and going 1-for-8 (12.5%) from 3-point range.
“We fought hard and were there in the end, but at the end of the day you have to make shots,” Blazers’ coach Tiago Splitter said.
Grant led the Blazers with 21 points, while Jrue Holiday added 20.
Portland (30-34) returns home to face Indiana at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Moda Center.