The Houston Rockets will go to Moda Center in Portland on Friday for a rematch with the Trail Blazers after dropping a dramatic 103–102 decision in their previous meeting. That late-night thriller saw Deni Avdija drop 41 points to lead Portland while Kevin Durant poured in 37 for Houston. Both of those players will try to lead their team to a victory heading into the weekend. Before tip-off from the Pacific Northwest, continue reading to find my Rockets vs Trail Blazers prediction.
Our Rockets vs Trail Blazers Pick ATS PRO
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers
- Date & Time: Friday, January 9, 2026, 10:00 PM ET
- Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Rockets (22–12) enter as favorites despite an emotional loss in their last meeting, where defensive lapses and poor shooting doomed their effort, as a buzzer-beating tip-in came just after the final buzzer for Houston. Kevin Durant continues his stellar scoring run, approaching another historic milestone and delivering consistent high-level output. Meanwhile, Houston remains without Alperen Şengün, whose ankle injury continues to sideline him, though he may return soon. Fred VanVleet remains out for the season, giving additional playmaking responsibilities to Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson.
The Trail Blazers have won four games in a row coming into this contest, including their win over the Rockets on Wednesday. Portland has a lengthy list of absences, with Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and Kris Murray all ruled out. Jrue Holiday is listed as questionable as well, meaning the Blazers’ backcourt could be thin again. But the Trail Blazers have been getting by thanks to the high-level play of Deni Avdija, who will look to go off again in this matchup.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- These teams are 1-1 against each other so far this season.
- The home team has won each of the first two meetings between these teams this year.
- Houston is 18-16 against the spread so far this season.
- Portland is 21-17 against the spread going into Friday night.
- The over is 20-18 in Trail Blazers games so far this season.
- Houston is 18-15-1 to the over this year.
Best Player Props to Watch ATS PRO
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | |
| Deni Avdija | |
| Amen Thompson | |
| Shaedon Sharpe |
Rockets vs Trail Blazers Model Projection ATS PRO
Final Thoughts ATS PRO
