The Portland Trail Blazers welcomed back their most proven offensive threat, Anfernee Simons, Friday night at the Houston Rockets and it didn't matter one little bit.
Houston, owners of one of the top-rated defenses in the NBA, dominated the Blazers while its offense exceeded the norm during a 116-88 win at the Toyota Center.
The Blazers fell right into the Rockets' hands from the start, committing five turnovers in the first quarter that led to nine points for Houston, which entered the night ranked fourth in points off turnovers per game (20.6).
Houston led 31-20 after the first quarter and continued dominating in the second quarter, where the Rockets shot 57.1% to build a 65-45 halftime lead.
The Blazers made a brief run in the third quarter to draw to within 81-66 points, but the Rockets pushed back to build a 96-73 lead entering the fourth.
Through three quarters, the Blazers had committed 14 turnovers that the Rockets converted to 21 points. By the end of the game, the Blazers had committed 21 turnovers resulting in 28 points for the Rockets.
Former Oregon Ducks star Dillon Brooks led the Rockets with 28 points. Guard Jalen Green scored 17, all in the first half. Tari Eason came off the bench to score 22.
Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each scored 13 points to lead the Blazers.
Houston shot 45.2% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. The Rockets entered the night ranked 28th in three-point shooting at 32.5%.
Portland managed to sink just 33% of its shots from the field and 25.6% from three-point range (11 of 43). The Blazers shot 42.1% over their previous four games.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (6-10) are now 2-6 on the road and 0-2 on this trip after losing to the Rockets (12-5). Portland fell to 1-1 in the Emirates NBA Cup. Houston is 2-0.
SIMONS RETURNS
Simons, who missed two games with an illness then one with a sprained hand, returned and appeared about as rust as one might expect.
Simons started, played over 21 minutes and scored just eight points on 2-of-7 shooting while committing four turnovers.
Center Deandre Ayton (right index finger) and guard Scoot Henderson (left quad contusion) did not play.
NEXT UP
The Blazers play the Rockets again at 5 p.m. Saturday.