If Game 1 was any indication, the opening round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers could be one of the best of the postseason. The Blazers came away with a 122-120 overtime victory on Sunday in a game that got very chippy at times, especially between Dwight Howard and Robin Lopez.
Lopez and Howard battled in the low post throughout most of the night. Howard finished with 15 rebounds and 27 points while Lopez had eight boards and scored six. Late in the second quarter, Howard was called for a loose ball foul while the two were fighting for a rebound. He was then given a technical foul after he appeared to intentionally drop the ball on Lopez.
It didn’t end there. The Rockets were very fortunate Howard was not given his second technical and ejected from the game in the fourth quarter when he blatantly elbowed Lopez in the midsection after a whistle.
Instead of Howard picking up another tech, Lopez was slapped with a technical for jawing at Dwight. As you can see, he had every right to be upset.
And that was only Game 1. It can only get more spirited from here.
