HOUSTON – LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points to help the Portland Trail Blazers to a 103-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
The loss spoiled a sensational performance by Kevin Martin, who finished with a season-high 45 points.
Rudy Fernandez gave Portland the lead with less than a minute remaining. Martin missed a shot on the other end and Aldridge grabbed the rebound and extended the lead with his bucket a few seconds later.
Luis Scola missed a shot for Houston and Aldridge was fouled on the rebound.
Aldridge hit two free throws with five seconds remaining before Kyle Lowry made a 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left to cut the lead to 102-100.
Andre Miller made a free throw before Courtney Lee's shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
The Rockets led 85-76 when Martin took a breather with about 10 minutes remaining. Portland took advantage of his absence to got on a 13-4 run capped by four points by Aldridge to tie it at 89 about four minutes later.
The Trail Blazers took their first lead of the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Patrick Mills that made it 92-91 with about 5½ remaining.
Martin bounced back from a difficult two-game road trip where he combined for just 23 points on 9 of 32 shooting. On Wednesday he was 13 of 18 from the floor, made 13 of his 15 free throw attempts and a season-high six 3-pointers.
His 19 points in the third quarter equaled the number scored by the Trail Blazers in that quarter.
The Rockets were without point guard Aaron Brooks, who missed the game after re-injuring the left ankle that kept him out 21 games earlier this season on Monday in a loss to Denver.
Notes: The Trail Blazers were short-handed too, playing without Brandon Roy, who is out indefinitely with a left knee injury. ... Miller had 11 points on Wednesday and now leads the Trail Blazers in double-figure scoring performances this season with 20.