Get ready, basketball fans! The Portland Trail Blazers are on a mission, aiming for their fourth consecutive victory as they clash with the Houston Rockets. This Tuesday, January 6, 2026, marks an exciting matchup you won't want to miss!
Let's dive into the details. The Houston Rockets, currently holding a record of 22-11, rank fifth in the Western Conference. They'll be going head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers, who are at 17-20, placing them ninth in the Western Conference. The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST in Portland, Oregon.
Portland is riding high on a three-game winning streak. A key factor for the Trail Blazers has been their dominance on the offensive boards, ranking second in the Western Conference with 14.3 offensive rebounds per game, led by Donovan Clingan, who averages 4.6 offensive rebounds.
The Rockets, on the other hand, have a conference record of 12-10. They boast an impressive scoring average of 119.4 points per game, outscoring their opponents by 8.4 points on average.
Here's where the three-point game gets interesting. The Trail Blazers average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game, surpassing the 12.6 allowed by the Rockets. Meanwhile, the Rockets average 11.8 made 3-pointers, slightly less than the number the Trail Blazers concede.
Remember their last encounter? The Rockets previously defeated the Trail Blazers 140-116 on November 15th, with Kevin Durant leading the charge with 30 points.
Let's highlight some key players. For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija is a standout, shooting 46.8% and averaging 25.9 points. Shaedon Sharpe has been on fire, averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers in his last 10 games. On the Rockets' side, Kevin Durant is averaging 25.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Jabari Smith Jr. has been consistent, averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Looking at their recent performance: In their last 10 games, the Trail Blazers have a 6-4 record, averaging 111.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 7.1 steals, and 4.1 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 45.6%. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points. The Rockets also hold a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, averaging 116.1 points, 49.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.8 steals, and 6.0 blocks per game, shooting at 49.2%, while their opponents have averaged 110.5 points.
Injury updates are crucial. The Trail Blazers will be without Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), Jrue Holiday (calf), Blake Wesley (foot), Jerami Grant (achilles), and Damian Lillard (achilles - out for the season). The Rockets are missing Fred VanVleet (acl - out for the season) and Alperen Sengun (ankle).
What do you think? Will the Trail Blazers continue their winning streak, or will the Rockets dominate? Share your predictions in the comments below!
This story was created by The Associated Press using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Copyright © 2026 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
