Lakers 113, Jazz 100 L.A. leads series 1-0

76ers 100, Magic 98 Phila. leads series 1-0

Hawks 90, Heat 64 Atl. leads series 1-0

Nuggets 113, vs. Hornets 84 Den. leads 1-0

TODAY'S GAMES

Game 2

Bulls vs. Celtics 6 p.m., TNT

Mavs vs. Spurs 8:30 p.m., TNT

PORTLAND, Ore. - Luis Scola knew it was coming. Everyone did.

The Trail Blazers begin every game the same way. They go to LaMarcus Aldridge in the low blocks, and the quick-footed, springy, ridiculously long forward goes to work.

Scola was waiting Saturday night. When Aldridge faked left and spun to his right, Scola was there. When Aldridge raced him to the post, when he went up for turnaround jumpers, when he cut to better position, Scola challenged every move.

In three regular-season meetings, Aldridge dominated the matchup. He averaged 22.3 points per game, forcing Chuck Hayes to come in to turn off what had been a torrent of offense flowing as if shot from a fire hose. The Rockets, however, need Scola on the court, which, against the Trail Blazers, means they need him to battle Aldridge.

"That's what we talked about," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We know Chuck has done a good job in the past times, but Luis really worked hard on (Aldridge), really mixed it up. Luis is really important to us offensively. The more we can keep him on the floor, the better off we are."

In Game 1 on Saturday, Scola was there at every turn. Aldridge made just three of 12 shots, and Scola was able to stay on the floor long enough to go 7-of-9 and score 19 points, helping to key the Rockets' 108-81 rout.

Complement to Yao

When Portland began fronting Yao Ming in the second half, Scola moved to open areas to burn the Blazers. When Yao left the game with four fouls, Scola helped keep the roll going, scoring 15 points in the second half.

Yet it was all made possible because he defended Aldridge well enough to play 35 minutes. And with Scola able to stay on the floor, Adelman could play Dikembe Mutombo when Yao was in foul trouble without having to use Mutombo and Hayes together.

"Luis did a great job - I mean unbelievable," Hayes said. "He fought him. He didn't let it be easy to catch the ball in the post. Sometimes he fronted just for a split second so (Aldridge) had to catch it out further. And when he defended him once he caught the ball, he didn't give him any space. Every time he turned to shoot, Luis was in his shooting pathway, where he made everything tough.

"The way he and Carl (Landry) defended Aldridge, it was unbelievable. They were really into him and focused in on the task at hand. If we can get (Aldridge) to be less aggressive, we've done our job."

Scola would not come close to an amen for the "great job" description. He also would not view the matchup as a showdown of power forwards, even if Aldridge's success against him during the regular season and the Blazers' determination to start their offense with Aldridge would seem to offer a personal challenge.

"I try to stay away from that," Scola said. "I don't think it's a personal thing. It's the way they start the games. I don't give it thought. I know that's the way they start, and I try to do the best I can. I don't think there's room for personal challenges right now.

"I just want to win. I just want to do whatever it takes. Matchups and pride don't matter. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is who wins, and it only matters until the next game. Then the next game comes, and you have to win."

It's only one game

As with the Rockets' general reaction to the rout, Scola was hesitant to consider anything a trend after one game. He did make 69 percent of his shots against Portland in the regular season, averaging 15 points. But he averaged 28 minutes, forced to take some of that offense off the floor by Aldridge's scoring on the other end. Asked if he at least defended Aldridge better in Game 1 than in the regular season, Aldridge offered only, "Could be."

When pressed, however, Scola admitted to a duel, with Scola trying to at least make things difficult for Aldridge.

"It's kind of like a battle," Scola said, "with me trying to not let him do what he likes and him trying to impose his move and do it anyway. I'm pretty sure he's not going to change for a playoff series. He's going to try to do his best moves, and sooner or later, he will start making shots. He's a great player; that's what great players do."

And Scola knows the Blazers are likely to keep going to Aldridge, testing Scola again and again.

"It can happen that with LaMarcus having a great game, we can win anyway. Or we can shut him down, and they can beat us," Scola said. "He is a huge part of their team, and they want to get him going the best they can."

Able to defend Aldridge in Game 1, Scola doesn't have long to wait - Game 2 is Tuesday night - before he'll have to do it again.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

GAME 2

Tuesday at Portland

9 p.m.

TV/radio: KTXH, NBA TV; 610 AM, 850 AM

Houston leads 1-0

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