The Rockets dropped their first game in the bubble Tuesday night in a 110-102 loss to the Blazers.
The team trailed for all but 12 seconds, but played tough throughout the game despite a poor shooting performance.
Houston shot just 39.1% from the floor and 35.8% from beyond the three-point line. Portland shot a smidge better at 41.1% from the floor and 38.7% from three.
In the second quarter, the Blazers rushed out to a 13-point lead and the rest of the game was an attempt to dig themselves out of the hole they created for themselves.