Rockets Vs. Blazers Recap: Goran Dragic Leads Houston In Fourth Straight Road Win

The Houston Rockets got out of The City of Roses with a 94-89 victory over the Portland Trailblazers on Monday night, with point guard Goran Dragic impressing once again with a 22-point performance.

Dragic told the media that he wasn't auditioning for a starting gig elsewhere for next season, once Kyle Lowry is back up to speed and 100 percent. But no question the point guard is being watched, tracked, and maybe even coveted by the end of the season.

Coincidentally, the Trailblazers need a point guard and they got a chance to see one up close and personal that they might want to pursue. Dragic knows what the deal is, too.

"It is going to be a crazy summer for me, but now I just want to be focused and play hard in every game," he said. "We are focused on the playoffs with Houston."

Chase Budinger came off the bench to score 15 points for the Rockets, who beat the Bulls, Lakers and Kings before traveling to Portland. Houston (32-25) has won six of its last eight games overall is currently in sixth place in the Western Conference.

Read more about the Rockets at The Dream Shake blog.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Move Up To No. 8

Currently on a three-game winning streak, the Houston Rockets moved up to No. 8 in the NBA Power Rankings by SB Nation's Tom Ziller. The Rockets have been moving up the Western Conference standings and currently sit in sixth place. Houston is in the middle of a logjam in the standings, but if they continue to play well, they'll be able to separate themselves. Ziller writes:

This is kind of unfair: Goran Dragic and Courtney Lee go hard for a few weeks, the Rockets rise up in the standings, and now the team's best player, Kyle Lowry, comes back. I'm not saying anyone wants to face the Grizzlies in the first round -- no one wants to face the Grizzlies, but the Rockets ought to put some fear into potential match-ups like the Lakers or Clippers.

As Ziller writes, Rockets fans should be excited. They've been playing really well lately, and sliding Lowry back into the lineup should make them even more feared by the top teams in the west.

For more information on the Houston Rockets, check out The Dream Shake. For more news and notes from around the NBA head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Houston Rockets Playoff Scenarios: Logjam Shifts With Each Game

With 10 games remaining, the Houston Rockets sit near the top of the list Western Conference teams whose playoff berths are far from certain.

At 31-25, the Rockets currently are in sixth place, only 1.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the fifth spot. However, Houston is only 2.5 games ahead of the 10th-place Utah Jazz, so it's a bit of a logjam. The San Antonio Spurs have not yet clinched the division, but it's all but a formality now.

Of the 10 games remaining, half of them are against teams ranging from seventh to 10th in the Western Conference standings: Utah (one game), Phoenix (one), Denver (two) and Dallas (one). Of the other five games, four are against sub-.500 teams and the other is against the Miami Heat.

So the Rockets have the opportunity to distance themselves from the teams chasing them, but also could let them catch up or pass Houston in the standings.

For more information on the Houston Rockets, check out The Dream Shake. For more news and notes from around the NBA head over to SB Nation's NBA Basketball page.

Rockets Vs. Blazers: TV Time, Radio Info, Game Preview

The Houston Rockets are finally gaining some momentum as a team and that’s translating to the standings at just the right time in the season. As the Western Conference playoff bracket comes into view, the Rockets are looking to cement their status and stave off their contenders as they go for their fourth win in a row tonight against the Portland Trailblazers.

The Blazers, on the other hand, are 5-5 in their last 10 games and can’t seem to get over the hump to contend for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have the No. 8 seed and the Suns and Jazz are between the Blazers and that final position. A win tonight would significantly help their cause.

Houston Rockets @ Portland Trailblazers
Game Time: Monday, 9:00pm CT
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
TV: KTXH
Radio Coverage: 610am and 850am

For more information on the Houston Rockets, make sure to check out The Dream Shake.

Houston Rockets: Road Warriors

Three Rockets road wins move them up in the standings