The Dallas Mavericks end a four-game home stand on Sunday evening against the Portland Trail Blazers. They've lost the first three games in this stretch, and a lot of it is due to the injuries that keep piling up.

Portland Trail Blazers face a significant blow as Damian Lillard is sidelined for the 2025-26 NBA season due to a torn Achilles tendon. The star guar

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Rockets take on the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup. Houston finished 52-30 overall, 31-21 in Western Conference action and 29-12 at home during the 2024-25 season. The Rockets shot 45.5% from the field and 35.3% from 3-point range last season.

Can the Rockets find their first win in group play for the NBA Cup as they host the Portland Trail Blazers this evening?

The Trail Blazers are the surprise of the NBA season, going 5-2 since coach Chauncey Billups was arrested for his alleged role in a poker scheme.

Shaedon Sharpe scored a season-high 35 points, Deni Avdija added 32 and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 125-117.

The Rockets continued to capitalize on one of the softer stretches of their schedule, and on Friday night, they looked every bit like a team determined to stack wins while the opportunity lasts.

The Pelicans (2-9) called a timeout with 2:33 left to regroup. But they never did. The Blazers pushed their lead to 15 points in the fourth quarter, then held off a late Pelicans rally to earn their first win on a five-game trip.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Alperen Sengun added 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Houston Rockets won their third straight with a 140-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.