With the help of Rookie Damian Lillards' outstanding performance Saturday, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Houston Rockets 95-85 in overtime.
Lillard contributed with 20 points for the Trail Blazers, including eight in overtime.
Nicolas Batum and Lillard each made a 3 to help the Blazers take a significant 87-81 lead at overtime. Lillard converted a reverse layup after the Rockets' star James Harden made a pair of free throws. He extended the Blazer's lead to 93-85 with his second three, with barely a minute remaining.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points and 11 rebounds for Portland while Wesley Matthews contributed with16 points. J.J. Hickson scored 9 points and 12 rebounds.
Jeremy Lin scored 13 points and 7 assists in his home debut for Houston, losing for the first time this season.
''It wasn't the prettiest game today and I think both sides struggled to hit shots. That's the way it goes sometimes,'' Lin said.
LaMarcus Aldridge played impressively for the Blazers.
''(LaMarcus) Aldridge had it rolling, he was dominating the game offensively, and I just wanted to make sure I was in the position to knock the shots down. (Aldridge) got going and I was able to get easier shots,'' Lillard said about Aldridge.The game was tied with just 1:17 minutes remaining and Lin made a layup while he was fouled by Hickson. He gave the Rockets an 81-78 lead by sinking the free throw.
The scores were leveled again when Matthews made a 3 with barely a minute remaining.
The Rockets still had an opportunity of winning the game in regulation, but the Blazers successfully knocked the ball out of Harden's hands with barely a few seconds left.
Harden wasn't as impressive as he was in the first two games with the Rockets. Matthews guarded him pretty well for most of the match.
''When you put up 45 the night before, it kind of wears you out. We are friends, but when it's tipoff time there are no friends,'' Matthews said.
Meanwhile, Harden attributed his lackluster performance to a tweaked ankle that slowed him down.
''But I don't like to make excuses. I had opportunities to make plays and to make shots and I just didn't,'' he said.
Many fans wore fake beards to resemble Harden. The Rockets sold fake beards Saturday at the team store to create more excitement and hype about their new star who looked supreme in his first two games for them. Even the Houston's mascot Clutch was decked with a fake beard.
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