The upper limit of blindly pursuing speed is not high! The Blazers fast whirlwind is easily broken by the Rockets superstar + double height

Translator's Note: This article was originally published by SBNation, and the author is Dave Deckard. The data in the article are as of the time of publication of the original article (November 15th, local time). The opinions in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

Durant led the Rockets to defeat the fast-paced Trail Blazers. Portland brings energy, but the Rockets have Hall of Fame caliber players.

Before Friday night, the Trail Blazers had not lost a single game by double-digit points in the entire 2025-26 season. But in Houston, this record was completely ended by the Rockets led by Durant with a score of 140-116. This game showcased many of the Blazers' signature styles of play: waves of offense, explosive dunks, and quick and easy scoring. But the Rockets used their strength to tell the Trail Blazers that what the Trail Blazers can do, the Rockets can not only copy, but also do it better, even far beyond it. In the end, the suspense of the game ended early, and the Rockets fixed the Trail Blazers' season record at 12 games and 6 losses.

The Blazers speeded up the game as soon as the game started, advancing quickly and breaking through the middle, either scoring directly or passing the ball to the outside for three-pointers. The three-pointers were hot in the opening stage, and the Trail Blazers got off to a 16-7 start. Then the Rockets responded: "So you want to run and gun, huh? Okay." Their fast break went into overdrive and they started scoring faster than the Trail Blazers.

After the first quarter, the Trail Blazers scored 32 points. This is usually a good outcome for them! But the Rockets scored 41 points in the same quarter.

This basically sets the tone of the entire game. Whenever the Trail Blazers perform well, the Rockets can always improve by another 10%. When the Trail Blazers' condition declined, the Rockets pursued the victory and widened the point difference. The third quarter was a typical example. The Trail Blazers still ran at full strength, shot freely, and dunked wantonly, but still fell behind by more than 20 points.

In the entire game, the Trail Blazers took 89 shots, scored 9 points on fast breaks, and forced 6 turnovers from their opponents. The Rockets took 106 shots, scored 23 fast break points, and forced 20 turnovers from their opponents. They learned from the Trail Blazers' successful formula and added the finishing touch, which ultimately led to the Blazers' failure.

After seeing the performance of the Trail Blazers, the Rockets declared with action: "Let you see what you are missing." Kevin Durant, who is from Texas and is 2.08 meters tall, appeared on the stage. Perhaps the memory of the Blazers giving up on selecting him in the 2007 NBA Draft is still fresh in my mind. Durant scored 16 points in the first quarter, dealing a heavy blow to the Blazers. He made 12 of 19 shots and scored 30 points. The Blazers had no way to deal with this.

Do you still remember the three-pointer that supported the Trail Blazers in the opening game? Although they hit intermittently in subsequent games, they were never able to become a stable support for victory. This is mainly because the Rockets' three-point performance is equally good. The Trail Blazers made 13 of 36 three-pointers, while the Rockets made 17 of 45. The shooting percentages between the two teams are about the same, but as the Trail Blazers have proven many times this season, the team that takes more three-pointers tends to win the game.

As we have mentioned many times, it is still difficult for the Trail Blazers to quickly return to the three-point line after completing their initial defense of the ball. This is especially evident in a lineup with Donovan Klingen on the floor.

The good news is that after the ups and downs at the beginning of the season, Klingen and the Trail Blazers are back among the league's top offensive rebounding teams. The Trail Blazers grabbed 16 offensive rebounds tonight, and they are very good at creating extra shooting opportunities through their strong rebounding performance.

But unfortunately, the Rockets sent Steven Adams in the second half and set up a double-high lineup. Adams grabbed 5 offensive rebounds in just 5 minutes, erasing the Blazers' early advantage in one fell swoop, and ultimately helped the Rockets win 20 offensive rebounds.

Sharp scored 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, but this was not his core highlight. For most of the game, he encountered blocks, steals and physical confrontations. The Rockets blocked and suppressed him better than any team we've seen. But Sharp did not back down. He fought hard for the ball on the floor, stayed active in the passing lane, and still insisted on attacking the basket on the offensive end. No matter how much pressure the Rockets put on him, he could respond. Such performance is admirable.

Avdija was quiet in the first half, scoring only 4 points. But he exploded in the third quarter, scoring 13 points in a single quarter, most of which came in the final period after the Rockets established a 23-point lead. Avdija hit a three-pointer and completed a wonderful 2+1, almost dominating the game for more than 10 minutes. He scored 22 points and 10 rebounds. The only drawback was that he made 7 turnovers. The Trail Blazers desperately need a backup point guard to relieve the pressure.

Speaking of which...

Jrue Holiday finished the game with 13 points and 6 assists, but it's worth taking a moment to recognize his important role in the Trail Blazers' road trip. He never led the team in scoring, nor was he a highlight-reel player. But his passing ability and insight into defenses connect the entire lineup in a unique way that cannot be replaced by other players. More importantly, when the ball is given to other players besides him, the gap can be clearly felt.