National Basketball Association

Ariza nets career high, Rockets edge Blazers

Published Nov. 1, 2009 5:26 a.m. ET

foxsports

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 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.