If you just looked at the standings in early January 2026, you’d assume the Houston Rockets were supposed to breeze through their back-to-back set in Portland. Houston came in sitting pretty at sixth in the West, bolstered by a veteran-heavy roster featuring Kevin Durant. Portland, meanwhile, was hovering under .500, struggling to find a consistent rhythm under acting coach Tiago Splitter.
Then the games happened.
The Portland Trail Blazers didn't just compete; they swept the two-game mini-series on January 7 and January 9. It was a wake-up call for a Rockets team that has lofty playoff ambitions. Basketball is weird like that. A "better" team on paper gets dragged into the mud by a young, scrappy squad that refuses to go away.
The Wild Finish That Cost Houston Everything
The game on January 7, 2026, was a heartbreaker for anyone wearing Rockets red. Portland escaped with a 103-102 win, but the box score is only half the story. The final four minutes were pure chaos. Kevin Durant, who finished with 37 points, almost pulled off another miracle.
With seconds left, Durant missed a desperation fadeaway. The ball bounced off the rim, and for a split second, it looked like Houston had tipped it in at the buzzer. The arena went silent. The officials huddled around the monitor for what felt like an eternity. Ultimately, they ruled the ball was still in the player's hand when the light turned red. No bucket. Game over.
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Deni Avdija was the real monster in that matchup. He dropped a career-high 41 points. Honestly, the Rockets’ defense looked shell-shocked. They couldn't stay in front of him, and his ability to rebound and push the pace kept Houston on their heels all night.
Why the Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers Matchup is Changing
Historically, this was a rivalry defined by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, or later, the Damian Lillard era in Portland. But the 2025-26 version of Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers is about a clash of philosophies.
Houston is all-in on "win now." They traded for Kevin Durant to pair him with Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet. It’s a roster designed for deep May runs. Portland is the opposite. They are a collection of "what if" talents like Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, supported by high-IQ pieces like Avdija.
The Sengun Absence Factor
You can't talk about these recent games without mentioning Alperen Sengun’s injury. The Rockets’ offense is built around his "Baby Jokic" playmaking style. Without him in the lineup during this stretch, the Rockets’ flow evaporated. They fell back into isolation-heavy basketball. Jabari Smith Jr. struggled significantly, going 0-for-10 from three-point range in the January 9 loss. When your secondary scorers go cold, even a 30-point night from Durant isn't enough to overcome a balanced Portland attack.
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Toumani Camara's Emergence
While everyone watches Scoot, Toumani Camara has quietly become Portland’s defensive soul. In the January 9 victory (111-105), Camara put up a career-high 25 points while basically living in the jersey of Houston's perimeter players. He’s the kind of player every contender wants but Portland is lucky enough to own.
What Most People Get Wrong About Portland
People see the 19-22 record and think the Blazers are a lottery team. They aren't. As of mid-January 2026, they are the only team in the NBA still undefeated in the new calendar year. They are riding a hot streak that has them firmly in the Play-In conversation.
The Blazers' efficiency from the field in these two games—shooting over 43% compared to Houston’s sub-38%—wasn't a fluke. It was the result of better shot selection. Portland moved the ball. Houston watched Durant.
The Amen Thompson Problem
There is a growing debate among Rockets fans about Amen Thompson. In the January 9 game, he played 37 minutes and grabbed 9 rebounds, but the Blazers simply stopped guarding him on the perimeter. They dared him to shoot. He finished a -12 in the plus/minus category.
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It’s getting exhausting for the Rockets to play 5-on-4 on offense. While his athleticism is elite, the lack of spacing is starting to hurt Durant’s ability to operate in the midrange. If Houston wants to stay in the top six of the Western Conference, they have to figure out how to use Amen without clogging the lane.
Looking Ahead: How to Bet This Matchup Next Time
If you're tracking Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers for the rest of the season, pay attention to these three specific indicators before placing a bet or setting a fantasy lineup:
- The Alperen Sengun Status: Do not bet on Houston to cover a large spread if Alpi is out. The offensive rating drops by nearly 8 points when he’s not the primary hub.
- Home Court in the PNW: The Moda Center has regained its status as a "house of horrors" for visiting teams. Portland’s young core plays with significantly more confidence at home.
- The 3-Point Variance: Houston is a "math" team. They take a lot of threes. If Jabari Smith and Reed Sheppard are having an off night, they don't have a Plan B other than "Give it to KD."
The Rockets are still the better team in the long run. They have the experience. They have the superstar. But Portland proved this January that they are no longer a "scheduled win" for the elite teams in the West.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury report regarding Matisse Thybulle's return, which is expected toward the end of January. His defensive presence will likely make the Blazers even tougher to score on in the fourth quarter. If you're a Rockets fan, the next step is simple: pray for Sengun’s healthy return before the standings slide any further.