With just one week until the trade deadline, the Houston Rockets must finalize their roster before the stretch run of the regular season. While it is widely bel

Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green spurred the Rockets past the Trail Blazers on Saturday as Houston reached the season's halfway point with a win.

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson, left, takes control of the ball from Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) AP AP

Analyzing Saturday’s Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Jerami Grant received an important injury update for the Trail Blazers' game on Saturday night against the Rockets.

Jalen Green scored 26 points and the Houston Rockets beat Portland 125-103, the Trail Blazers’ fifth straight loss.

Portland will try to end its four-game slide when the Portland Trail Blazers take on Houston. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season.

The Houston Rockets (27-13) and Portland Trail Blazers (13-27) hope to make it 2-1 in their season series on Saturday night ( 10 ET, League Pass) in Portland. The Rockets had their five-game win streak snapped on Thursday, and the Blazers will try to end a four-game losing streak of their own.

Jalen Green is averaging over 30 points per game this month on elite efficiency, and he’ll look to build on that when Houston visits Portland (+11.5).

Specifically, Detroit's ability to attack the basket with ease gave the Rockets a wake-up call that their rim-protection needs to be touched up prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Showcasing this glaring weakness, the Pistons' Jalen Duren was able to take it to the Rockets' star center Alperen Şengün on both ends of the floor.

The Rockets are moving in silence leading up to the trade deadline, with Brian Windhorst of ESPN revealing his intel.

Rankings do not always tell the whole story. Here's the inside scoop on the Trail Blazers recent progress ahead of their matchup with the Hornets.