The Moda Center in Portland was buzzing with anticipation on January 7, 2026, as the Portland Trail Blazers hosted the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference clash that had plenty of storylines, stakes, and star power. Both squads entered the night riding impressive stretches—Portland with a three-game home winning streak and five wins in their last six, Houston having won five of six themselves, including a nail-biting victory over the Phoenix Suns just two nights prior.
Tip-off was set for 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET), with fans tuning in on KUNP, SCHN, and Rip City Radio, while streaming was available via BlazerVision and Fubo. The stakes were clear: the Blazers, sitting at 17-20, sought to keep their hot streak alive despite a depleted roster, while the 22-11 Rockets looked to solidify their position near the top of the standings as they opened a three-game road trip.
Both teams faced adversity before even stepping on the court. The Trail Blazers were without a host of key players: Damian Lillard (Achilles), Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Jrue Holiday (calf), Jerami Grant (Achilles), Matisse Thybulle (knee), Blake Wesley (foot), and Kris Murray (back) were all sidelined, with Murray listed as doubtful. For Houston, the absence of Alperen Sengun (ankle), Fred VanVleet (knee), and Isaiah Crawford (illness) meant their rotation would also be tested. Sengun, notably, was expected to miss 10–14 days after his injury sustained in a January 3 loss to Dallas.
Despite the injury woes, both teams had plenty of firepower. The Rockets, led by Kevin Durant, came in averaging 119.4 points per game—just a tick below the 119.6 points the Blazers typically allow. Portland, meanwhile, was scoring 116.9 points per contest, nearly six more than the 111 points Houston gives up on average. It was a recipe for a high-scoring affair, and oddsmakers agreed, setting the over/under at 221.5 points.
Kevin Durant, who had just delivered a 26-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist performance capped by a game-winning three-pointer against Phoenix, was the man to watch. Entering the night, he was just 52 points away from surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and needed 13 rebounds to join an elite club with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, and Karl Malone—players with at least 27,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists. The prop bet for Durant was set at 27.5 points, slightly above his season average of 25.7, and the projection was for him to eclipse that mark with 28 points.
On the Blazers’ side, Deni Avdija was making headlines of his own. Fresh off being named Western Conference Player of the Week after a 33-point outing against the Utah Jazz—which also saw him reach the 5,000 career points milestone—Avdija was tasked with picking up the slack for Portland’s injury-ravaged roster. The Blazers had just dismantled the Jazz 137-117 in their previous game, and with a home-heavy January schedule, there was hope that Portland could continue their resurgence, even against a tough Rockets squad.
The betting lines reflected both the Rockets’ status as favorites and the uncertainty created by so many injuries. Houston was favored by 6.5 to 7.5 points across various sportsbooks, with a moneyline hovering around -265 for Houston and +215 for Portland. Against the spread, Houston was 18-15-0 on the season but just 8-11 when favored by 7.5 points or more. Portland, meanwhile, had covered the spread 20 times in 37 games and boasted a 6-3 record as underdogs of 7.5 points or greater.
Notably, this was the first of two meetings in three nights between these teams at Moda Center—the next scheduled for January 9. Their previous meeting earlier in the season ended in a 140-116 Rockets blowout in Houston, a defeat so stinging it prompted a players-only meeting for the Blazers. Since then, Portland had shown resilience, stringing together wins and finding a groove, even as their lineup shuffled due to injuries.
As the game tipped off, the atmosphere was electric. Fans were eager to see if the Blazers could extend their home winning streak or if the Rockets, led by a motivated Durant, would continue their march up the Western Conference standings. The first half did not disappoint, with both teams trading buckets and neither side able to pull away decisively. With Portland’s depth severely tested, younger players and role contributors were thrust into the spotlight, while Houston looked to exploit matchups with their veteran core.
Throughout the contest, the Rockets’ offense hummed, but the Blazers hung tough, buoyed by the Moda Center crowd and the recent momentum from their successful stretch. The game’s pace suggested the over on total points was in play—no surprise given both teams’ season averages and the defensive lapses caused by so many missing starters. The projected combined score of 233.4 seemed well within reach as both teams pushed the tempo.
Injuries remained a subplot, with each possession a reminder of the stars missing from both sides. Yet, the game also showcased the depth and adaptability of these NBA rosters. Durant, eyeing history, was aggressive from the outset, seeking to add to his career totals. Avdija, meanwhile, continued to embrace his expanded role, attacking the rim and looking to keep Portland within striking distance.
With the outcome still very much in doubt as the second half unfolded, fans and analysts alike were left to wonder: Would Durant’s pursuit of milestones be the story of the night, or could the shorthanded Blazers continue their improbable run at home? The answer would have to wait until the final buzzer, with both teams leaving everything on the court and the Moda Center faithful savoring every moment of a game that, even with its share of absences, delivered the drama and excitement NBA fans crave.
As the final stretch of this two-game set approaches, one thing is clear: both the Trail Blazers and Rockets are navigating adversity, but neither is backing down. With another showdown on the horizon, the Western Conference playoff picture remains as unpredictable—and entertaining—as ever.
