NBA scores: Young Rockets drop pair of road games over weekend

Tight basketball games have been the norm for the Houston Rockets so far in 2012-13, and the team's two narrow losses over the weekend were no exception.

Despite grabbing a seven-point halftime lead on Friday night, the Rockets let the hometown Trail Blazers come back to tie the score and eventually force an extra period of action. And while a number of Houston players produced moster offensive performances in the high-scoring battle, the Rockets still left the Rose Garden with a frustrating 119-117 overtime defeat after a big overtime session from Portland rookie Damian Lillard.

With a chance to even their record at 5-5 with a victory, the Rockets then hit the road two days later for a date with a dangerous Los Angeles Lakers team on Sunday. The Lakers quickly reeled off an 11-point advantage after just 12 minutes of play using a heavy dose of Kobe Bryant, as the Rockets found themselves unable to account for getting down in an early hole. The future Hall of Famer also picked up his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and gave Houston's backcourt of James Harden and Jeremy Lin fits all game long with his unselfishness.

Set to conclude their brief three-game road trip on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, the Rockets will soon gear up for a stretch of nine home games over their next 12 contests.