Ariza scores a career-high 33 points for Rockets
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No Yao Ming. No Tracy McGrady. No problem for the Houston Rockets.
Trevor Ariza, making the move from the Lakers this season, scored a career-high 33 points, Aaron Brooks added 28 points and the Rockets held on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers at home for the fifth straight time in regular season, 111-107 on Saturday night.
"I know it was an important game for us," Ariza said. "They (Portland) are one of the better teams in the West with a lot of talent, too. It was bigger for us to win at home tonight."
Yao is out for the season following foot surgery and McGrady is recovering from knee surgery, leaving the Rockets to find ways to win games without their big guys.
"We've got a pretty young team and we've got a bunch of new faces on this team so the scouting report is not that big," Carl Landry said. "We've got guys that are hungry who are going out there every night and fighting hard to get us in the 'W' column."
Houston had to overcome a 42-point performance by Brandon Roy and a determined Trail Blazers offense which kept the game close to the end.
"Ariza and Brooks did whatever they wanted," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "They controlled the ball and made their shots."
Ariza's previous career high was 26 points last March 15 for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas.
The Rockets hit 12 of 24 3-point baskets and shot 50.6 percent overall for the game. Ariza was 5 for 8 from 3-point range.
Ariza started 20 games for the Lakers last season. He expects to see more playing time with the Rockets. He already likes the fast pace.
"If that's what it takes for us to win then that is how we need to play," Ariza said. "No matter how tired we are, no matter what the situation is or what the odds are. If we want to win, we have to play that way every night."
Houston led 59-54 at the half and never lost the lead. Portland got to 87-84 early in the fourth quarter but could not push ahead. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points for the Trail Blazers and Andre Miller had 15.
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