HOUSTON -- One night after struggling to contain one of the highest scoring guards in the NBA, the Rockets will get a second chance to shore up their defense when Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard pays a visit to Toyota Center on Thursday night.Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook torched Houston (6-5) for 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in a 105-103 Thunder victory. Westbrook entered the game second in the NBA in scoring (32 points per game) and assists (9.9), and pacing the NBA in usage rate at 41.4 percent.Lillard brings similar credentials, ranking fifth in scoring (29.8 points) and eighth in usage rate at 32.6 percent. But for all the success Westbrook had on Wednesday night and the potential for a similar eruption when they play host to Portland (7-5), the Rockets stumbled against the Thunder because their offense collapsed in the fourth quarter again.Houston has struggled with pace, scoring and shooting percentage in the fourth quarter this season and those issues were at the forefront of their loss to Oklahoma City. The Rockets posted just 13 points in the final period and were held scoreless between a Clint Capela dunk with 6:26 remaining and an Eric Gordon 3-pointer just prior to the buzzer. They missed nine consecutive shots during that stretch, adding to what has been a prevailing problem for an offense that oftentimes scores at will.We have that problem a little bit, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said of holding the ball too long down the stretch of close games. I thought we got good shots. It might not have been your classic move the ball, move the ball, move the ball but I thought we had some looks. The 3s they had looks at we had them and they made them and we missed them. Sometimes it just comes down to youve got to make shots and we just didnt do it.The Trail Blazers issues are defense and rebounding. They entered Wednesday 29th in scoring defense (111.2 points per game) and 27th in defensive rating. The Bulls ravaged Portland on Tuesday night while rolling to a 113-88 victory at Moda Center, finishing plus-18 on the glass. Chicago managed 19 offensive boards, par for the course with Portland ranking 29th in defensive rebounding rate at 72.3 percent.Our defensive rebounding is a concern, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. Its addressed and weve got to get better and focus on it.Similar to the Rockets, Portland leans on offensive might to carry the weight most nights. The Trail Blazers trailed 13-2 before recording their first basket with 6:48 left in the first quarter against the Bulls and were down 17 when someone other than C.J. McCollum scored a basket.Yet for all the concerns over defense and rebounding, the NBA remains a make-or-miss league. When the Rockets and Portland make shots, particularly from the perimeter, they are difficult for any defense to slow. When they dont, whether in the first or fourth quarter, problems arise.Were not a paint team. We rely on 3s, we rely on penetration, Stotts said. When youre struggling offensively in the first quarter there are going to be a lot of bloated numbers across the board. Wholesale Air Jordan Shoes . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Cheap Authentic Jordan Shoes . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.cheapjordanfreeshipping.com/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Cheap Jordan Shoes From China . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Cheap Jordan Free Shipping . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. CLEVELAND -- Trevor Bauer needs to pitch well for Clevelands injury-depleted rotation as the Indians close in on the AL Central title.Bauer had a rough afternoon in Sundays 9-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The right-hander hit three batters and allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings.Carlos Carrasco, the Indians No. 2 starter, broke his right hand after being hit by Ian Kinslers line drive Saturday. Danny Salazar is unlikely to pitch again because of a strained right forearm, meaning the Indians need someone to line up behind staff ace Corey Kluber.Although Bauer struggled against Detroit -- a loss that reduced Clevelands lead over the Tigers to seven games -- hes not feeling any extra responsibility.I never feel pressure, he said. My process is the same every time I pitch.Bauer (11-8) will likely have three more starts in the regular season.I try to go out there and execute pitches at a high level, he said. Some days Im better at that than others. Its the same process, the same mindset, and its not for a lack of effort.Kinsler got his helmet knocked off by a pitch from Bauer in the third inning. The right-hander also hit Miguel Cabrera on the left hand in the first and Victor Martinez on the right knee later in the third.Kinsler grabbed the side of his head, was examined and went to first. Bauer tossed his glove to the ground and crouched behind the mound. Kinsler was being tested for a concussion after the game.Bauer apologized following the game, the Indians second loss in 15 games to the Tigers. Detroit is one game behind Toronto for the second AL wild-card spot.Regardlesss of game situation, I would never intentionally throw at someones head, Bauer said.dddddddddddd That has no place in the game. I know saying sorry for it doesnt really change that it happened.Indians manager Terry Francona admitted Bauers command was an issue.Thats probably the understatement, he said. There were balls down, in, up, out. You never want to see somebody get hit in the head. You could tell there was no intent, but I understand why guys were getting aggravated. Guys were getting drilled pretty good. I get it.A day earlier, Kinsler hit a line drive that broke injured Carrasco, leaving a major hole in Clevelands rotation. Right-handers Josh Tomlin and Mike Clevinger have been moved from the bullpen and will start this week.Detroit starter Daniel Norris (3-2) threw the first pitch of the bottom of the third behind Rajai Davis, which led to both sides being warned by home plate umpire Jordan Baker.Carlos Santana homered in the Cleveland sixth.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: 3B Nick Castellanos (broken right hand) will face pitchers the next two days in Lakeland, Florida. He could return during the final two weeks.Indians: OF Lonnie Chisenhall (strained abdominal muscle), who has been out of the starting lineup since Thursday, pinch hit in the ninth.UP NEXTTigers: LHP Matt Boyd is scheduled to pitch the opener of a three-game series in Minnesota on Tuesday.Indians: Tomlin will start Tuesday against Kansas City, the opener of a three-game series. 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