5 p.m. today at Toyota Center;

TV on KGW (8); radio on KXTG (95.5)

Projected starters

Portland

No.

Name

Ht.

Pos.

Statistics

2

Steve Blake

6-3

PG

11.2 ppg, 5.1 apg, 2.3 rpg

7

Brandon Roy

6-6

SG

22.9 ppg, 5.2 apg

88

Nicolas Batum

6-8

SF

5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg

12

L. Aldridge

6-11

PF

18.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg

10

Joel Przybilla

7-1

C

5.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg

Houston

0

Aaron Brooks

6-0

PG

11.2 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.0 rpg

96

Ron Artest

6-7

G/F

17.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.2 apg

31

Shane Battier

6-8

F/G

7.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg

4

Luis Scola

6-9

F/C

12.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg

11

Yao Ming

7-6

C

19.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg

About the Rockets: Even though All-Star forward Tracy McGrady has played just 35 games because of season-ending microfracture surgery on his left knee, the Rockets are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, one-half game behind the Blazers in fifth place. . . . After registering an 11-4 record in March, at one point claiming sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division, the Rockets have lost their first two games in April. Over their last four games, Houston has lost to playoff contenders Utah, Phoenix and the Lakers, while defeating the Clippers. . . . The Rockets are 30-8 at home. . . . Houston ranks ninth in the NBA in points allowed (94.8 per game) and has been even more stingy in 38 home games (92.0 ppg). . . . Former Blazers coach Rick Adelman ranks 12th on the NBA's all-time list of career regular season victories with 855 --nine fewer than another former Blazers coach, Jack Ramsay, who ranks 11th on the all-time list. Adelman was the Western Conference coach of the month in March. . . . Houston is 28-3 when Yao scores at least 20 points. . . . The Rockets traded point guard Rafer Alston near the NBA trading deadline to make room in the starting lineup for Aaron Brooks and he has responded by leading the team to a 15-7 record and positioning himself as a Most Improved Player candidate. The University of Oregon graduate scored 10 or more points just 10 times as a rookie last season, but has done so 40 times this season. He's averaging 13.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 29 starts this season. . . . Von Wafer, who played the final 28 games with the Blazers last season, has developed into a rotation player for the Rockets and is the team's highest scoring active reserve (9.6 ppg).

Series history: This is the last of three meetings between the teams this season and each team has won at home, thanks in large part to the 31-foot buzzer-beater Roy drained at the Rose Garden in December. The Rockets have won nine of the last 10 meetings in Houston, the last coming during a 98-94 victory in Feb. The Rockets hold an 88-72 all-time advantage in the series, which includes a 50-29 edge in Houston.

Injuries: Martell Webster (left foot) will not play for the Blazers. Carl Landry (left calf, finger) and McGrady (left knee) are out for the Rockets.

-- Joe Freeman