Houston toppled Portland 4-2 to move past the Western Conference First Round as they outscored Portland 112-87 in a blowout. Neither the win nor the final score came as a huge surprise to some observers, who consider Portland one of the most pitiful teams in league history. "They ought to drop down a couple divisions," said one pundit. "Today's game was just one more bit of evidence that they can't compete at this level. Maybe if they got a new coach and a new roster they could, but until then it's going to be more games like this."

Bob is hoping to turn things around a bit quicker. "We'll have to study the tapes tonight and figure out where they beat us. Some better preparation and we'll have no problems matching up against teams like this."

Houston was led by Sims (15 points, a steal, 3 blocks), Lewis (27 points, a block), Laboy (23 points, a steal). Portland was led by Smith (9 points, 13 assists, 4 steals), Jackson (16 points, 5 boards, 2 assists, 3 blocks), Kimbell (19 points, 6 boards, 0 assists, a block).

box score Houston roster Portland roster

Transactions
CVBL: Houston Go Up 3-2 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Houston Takes Out Portland
CVBL: Minnesota Upends LA Clippers
CVBL: Minnesota 100, LA Clippers 91 in Upset Win
CVBL: Denver Trail 1-2 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Houston Takes Out Portland in a Big Win for Bob
CVBL: Sacramento 99, Utah 78
CVBL: Sacramento Lead 3-0 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Memphis Topple Denver 4-1, Get Through the Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Sacramento Defeats Utah 82-75
CVBL: Memphis Dominant in Win Over Denver
CVBL: Sacramento Go Up 1-0 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Memphis Gets Solid 110-90 Win
CVBL: Portland Go Up 2-1 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: LA Clippers Teaches Minnesota a Lesson
CVBL: Portland Tie Series 1-1 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Bob Watches Memphis Win
CVBL: LA Clippers Puts on a Demonstration
CVBL: Chicago 104, New York 97 in Upset Win
CVBL: Chicago Go Up 3-0 in Eastern Conference First Round
CVBL: Chicago Move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals by Getting Past New York 4-2
CVBL: Indiana Takes Out Brooklyn in a Big Win for Coach Hitch
CVBL: Chicago Lead 2-0 in Eastern Conference First Round
CVBL: LA Clippers Lead 1-0 in Western Conference First Round
CVBL: Brooklyn Comes up Big Over Indiana
CVBL: Indiana Knocks Off Brooklyn
CVBL: LA Clippers Cruises to 103-79 Win over Minnesota
CVBL: Brooklyn Comes up Big Over Indiana
CVBL: Philadelphia Upends Miami
CVBL: Detroit Survives Toronto in Overtime
CVBL: Brooklyn Wins
CVBL: Detroit Wins Big
CVBL: Detroit Schools Toronto
CVBL: Brooklyn Clobbers Indiana
CVBL: Detroit All Over Toronto
CVBL: New York Schools Chicago
CVBL: Miami Get Past Philadelphia 4-1, Advance Past the Eastern Conference First Round
CVBL: New York Down 1-3 in Eastern Conference First Round
CVBL: Miami Survives Philadelphia in Overtime
CVBL: Miami Pull Ahead 2-0 in Eastern Conference First Round
CVBL: Miami Beats Philadelphia in Blowout