Bench leads Rockets to 103-96 win over Blazers

By Anne M. Peterson

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 8 2012 10:50 p.m. MST

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Houston Rockets' Chase Budinger (10) shoots as Portland Trail Blazers' Nicolas Batum (88) defends in the second half during an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, in Portland, Ore. The Rockets defeated the Trail Blazers 103-96.

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

Summary

Chase Budinger had 22 points off the bench and the Houston Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-96 on Wednesday night.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Chase Budinger had 22 points off the bench and the Houston Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-96 on Wednesday night.

Houston lost starting guard Kyle Lowry to a right arm injury late in the third quarter and he did not return. The extent of the injury was not immediately known.

Lowry had 12 points before he left. Courtney Lee finished with 16 as the Rockets' bench accounted for 66 points.

Houston led by as many as 19 for its second straight win on the road. The Rockets were coming off a 99-90 victory at Denver on Monday night.

Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 21 points for the Blazers, who rallied to tie the game at 77 on LaMarcus Aldridge's dunk in the fourth quarter. But Portland could not pull ahead.

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