Rockets report: Terry, Stotts renew acquaintances

Rockets guard Jason Terry and Portland coach Terry Stotts have quite a history.

When Stotts was an NBA coach for the first time in 2002 in Atlanta, Terry was playing for the Hawks.

"In my first-ever game as a head coach, he hit a buzzer-beater game-winner against the Spurs," Stotts said.

Then the two spent time together in Dallas before parting ways.

Stotts said he coached Terry before he had his current famous nickname.

"He was just just JT then. Now he is the Jet," Stotts said.

Terry said he has been impressed with his former coach's stint in Portland.

"He runs a good system," Terry said. "That's a talented, well-coached group of guys."

Stotts said he wasn't surprised by how much Terry has added to the Rockets.

"Jet is a great teammate," Stotts said. "He had a lot of success, not just with the championship in Dallas, but multiple 50-win seasons. He knows what it takes to win in this league. I assume he is able to bring that to his teammates."

Infection keeps Aldridge out

When the Rockets and Trail Blazers met Monday night for the first time since their playoff series last spring, a key player was missing.

Forward LaMarcus Aldridge missed the game with an upper respiratory infection.

Portland coach Terry Stotts said Aldridge starting feeling sick Sunday and ended up staying at the team hotel to rest for the game.

Meyers Leonard started in his place.

The Rockets had three players who were probable before the game: Dwight Howard (shoulder), Trevor Ariza (calf) and James Harden (hamstring). All three started.

Terrence Jones was out with a nerve issue in his leg.

Nice debutsfor newcomers

New Rockets Corey Brewer and Alexey Shved, both traded to the team Thursday, made their debuts with the team Monday night in the 110-95 win over the Trail Blazers.

Coach Kevin McHale said he likes what he saw from both players in practice Sunday.

Brewer said he was excited about playing with the Rockets because of how well their style of play fits his strengths.

"I really like to play fast and get up and down," Brewer said.

Both made an immediate impact when they entered the game in the first half.

Brewer finished the game with 12 points, four assists and five steals; Shved had three points and one assist.

Terry joins elite 3-point company

When Jason Terry hit a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of the Rockets' 110-95 win over Portland on Monday night, he became just the third player to hit 2,000 3-pointers in his career.

The other two who accomplished the feat are Reggie Miller and Ray Allen

Jenny Dial Creech