National Basketball Association

Blazers outlast Rockets in OT to take 3-1 series lead

Published Apr. 28, 2014 1:16 a.m. ET

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LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and 10 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Houston Rockets 123-120 in overtime Sunday to take a 3-1 advantage in their first-round playoff series.

Nicolas Batum added 25 points in the first win for the home team in the series, which moves to Houston for Game 5 on Wednesday. It was the third overtime game of the series.

The Blazers haven't advanced out of the first round since the postseason in 2000

James Harden had 28 points and Dwight Howard added 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets.

Portland trailed by as many as 11 points, but rallied in the fourth quarter. Mo Williams' 3-pointer put the Blazers in front 105-104 with 18.9 seconds left. Dorell Wright missed the first of two free throws making it 106-104 with 8.3 seconds to go.

Howard dunked off a feed from Harden with 3.6 seconds left to tie it again and Williams missed a 3 at the buzzer to send the game into overtime at 106-all.

Chandler Parsons was hit with a flagrant foul on Aldridge, who made both free throws to give the Blazers the lead to start off OT. Nicolas Batum scooped up a layup before adding a 3-pointer to put Portland ahead 115-110 with 2:34 left and Damian Lillard added a layup.

After Aldridge made a long jumper, Houston rookie Troy Daniels nailed a 3 and Harden landed a jumper to narrow it to 119-117, but Lillard made free throws to extend the lead to four points with 17 seconds left.

Aldridge missed a pair of free throws and Troy Daniels was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three shots to narrow it to 121-120 with 8.9 seconds left. After a Portland timeout, Mo Williams made free throws for the final margin.

Aldridge opened Portland's return to the playoffs with a franchise postseason-best 46 points in the Blazers' 122-120 overtime victory in Game 1, then followed it up with 43 points in the 112-105 win. The Rockets won the third, 121-116 in overtime on Friday night at the Moda Center.

Houston coach Kevin McHale again started Omer Asik in place of Terrence Jones. Asik had success against Aldridge in Game 3, helping to hold Portland's All-Star to 23 points.

The two teams played closely for most of the first quarter, but the Rockets took a 29-22 lead after an 11-4 run highlighted by two straight 3-pointers from Daniels.

Daniels, who spent time in the D-League this season and only made his NBA debut on March. 5, was the unlikely hero of Game 3 when he drained a 3 with 11.9 seconds to go in OT that proved to be the winner.

Houston led 61-51 at the half, led by Parsons with 19 points. The Rockets maintained the lead through the third quarter and Harden's jumper from the top of the key stretched it to 92-84 with 8:31 left.

Portland got to within 94-91 on Batum's layup with 6:35 left. Lillard's 3-pointer tied it at 94, but Harden answered with his own 3 for the Rockets.

Aldridge made a layup to put Portland up 102-97, but Howard made three of four free throws to narrow it before making two big blocks. Harden hit free throws to tie it at 102 with 1:11 left. Aldridge missed a layup and Harden hit another two foul shots to give the Rockets back the lead.

NOTES: Houston guard Patrick Beverly did not participate in shootaround because he wasn't feeling well, but he started the game. .... NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was at the game but he was not available to the media. Silver is facing a storm of controversy surrounding racist comments purportedly made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling. ... The Blazers all wore black socks in solidarity with the Clippers. "I wanted to do something to support our brothers," Aldridge said.