The Portland Trail Blazers will try to win a playoff series for the first time since 2000 on Wednesday night when they visit the Houston Rockets for Game 5 at the Toyota Center. Joe Morgan Jersey . Portland won Game 4 Sunday night at the Moda Center and are now up 3-1. The last time the Blazers won a playoff series came in the 2000 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz. They fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games in the Conference Finals, but since, Portland has lost six times in the first round. That could all change on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers won the first two games in Houston, then fell in Game 3 at home. Portland is on the precipice of advancement, but its been a tough trek to get to this point. Three of the first four game went to overtime, including Game 4, which the Blazers won 123-120. "Its not exhausting if you win, its exhausting if you lose," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of the series three overtime games. "And weve lost two of the three." LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 29 points for the fifth-seeded Blazers, followed by 25 from Nicolas Batum. Damian Lillard had 23 and Wesley Matthews added 21. James Harden had 28 points to lead the Rockets, Chandler Parsons scored 26 -- but just seven after halftime -- and Dwight Howard ended with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Portland took its first lead since 6-5 when Batum spun Parsons around with a crossover dribble and knocked down a 3-pointer from the high right side to make it 99-97 with 4 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Later, Howards only two blocks of the game came before Harden made four foul shots in a row to give Houston a 104-102 edge with 50.9 seconds on the clock. After Batum missed a 3, Jeremy Lin rebounded the ball for the Rockets but was stripped by Mo Williams. Matthews missed a layup, but Lillard got the rebound and kicked it to Williams, who knocked down a 3 to give Portland a one-point lead with 18.9 seconds left in the fourth. Howards game-tying dunk came after Dorell Wright missed one of two foul shots for the Blazers, and Williams missed a 3-point try at the buzzer for Portland. Matthews opened overtime by wrestling the ball away from Howard and called a timeout, Parsons smacked Aldridge across the face at the other end for a Flagrant 1 foul and Aldridge made his free throws for the first points of overtime. Still, the game was tied until Batum scored five straight to spark a 7-0 run that gave the Blazers the lead for good. He made a 3-pointer after Aldridge stripped Howard under the Rockets basket, then found Lillard in transition for a layup and 117-110 lead with 2:19 to play. Troy Daniels, the former D-League player and unexpected hero for the Rockets in Game 3 when he hit the winning 3 in the closing seconds of overtime, made his first three NBA foul shots to get them within a point with 8.9 seconds left. After Williams made two free throws at the other end, Matthews stepped in front of Patrick Beverley just beyond midcourt and knocked the ball loose, sealing the win -- Portlands second in overtime in the series. "It was another terrific game and I think its obvious that both teams are pretty evenly matched," said Portland coach Terry Stotts. "I was really proud of the way we played in the second half. I thought we showed a lot of heart and determination to get back into the game." If needed, Game 6 will be Friday night in Portland. Jose Urquidy Astros Jersey . The Oilers jumped into the free agent market early by signing defencemen Keith Aulie (six-foot-six, 228 pounds) and Mark Fayne (6-3, 210 pounds) and left-winger Benoit Pouliot (6-3, 197-pounds). Two days earlier MacTavish traded lightweight forward Sam Gagner to Tampa Bay for 6-3, 203-pound right winger Ted Purcell. Josh Reddick Astros Jersey . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. https://www.cheapastros.com/2803o-roy-oswalt-jersey-astros.html . Top-seeded Djokovic swept to a 6-1, 6-3 win over 51st-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in just 57 minutes, but fourth-seeded Federer had to see off a serious challenge from 48th-ranked Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic before coming through 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3. BEREA, Ohio -- Week 3. Quarterback No. 3. The Browns are up to their usual changes, just a lot earlier than normal. With Brandon Weeden out with a sprained thumb for at least one game, and Clevelands offence unable to score, coach Rob Chudzinski shockingly named third-string QB Brian Hoyer his starter for Sundays game at Minnesota and demoted troubled wide receiver Greg Little. Chudzinskis decision to start Hoyer is a surprise since he picked him ahead of experienced backup Jason Campbell, who came off the bench last week after Weeden was injured in Baltimore. Hoyer had been listed as Clevelands third-team quarterback behind Campbell since training camp opened, and it had been assumed that if Weeden couldnt play, Campbell would move one spot up the depth chart. But Chudzinski decided to go with Hoyer to help the Browns (0-2) get their first win. "I feel like based on our current situation -- where were at offensively as well as getting into the game planning for Minnesota -- that Brians strengths are the best fit for this week and that he gives us our best chance to win," Chudzinski said. "The things that he does well fit what we need. For me, its about who gives us the best chance to win. "Were 0-2 right now, so were looking to shake things up to start winning games. Were hoping this is a spark we need." Chudzinski added another layer of alarm to Wednesdays news by failing to guarantee Weeden would get his job back. "Im going to leave all the options open," Chudzinski said. "Really, its a matter of where hes at from a health standpoint and all that plays into it and where were at and how guys are playing as well." Browns general manager Michael Lombardi has long admired Hoyer, but Chudzinski said the choice to start him was "absolutely my decision." Hoyer will be the 19th quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, a troubling figure that maybe best explains why the club is 73-154 since its expansion return with one playoff appearance. As Clevelands offensive co-ordinator in 2007, Chudzinski oversaw the benching of starter Charlie Frye after the opener for Derek Anderson, who led the Browns to a 10-6 record with a high-scoring offence. "Its just evidence that a change can be good," Chudzinski said. "It remains to be seen how Brian plays. Im expecting him to play well." Weeden injured his thumb when he banged it on the helmet of a teammate while throwing a pass in Sundays 14-6 loss to Baltimore. The second-year starter will visit a hand specialist on Thursday, when he shouldd get a better sense of how long he will be out. Bryan Abreu Jersey. "You never want to get hurt," said Weeden, who was sacked 11 times in Clevelands two losses. "I dont care when it is, could be the 16th game or the first game. As a player, you want to be out there. So, yeah it is frustrating. Even though the results werent there offensively, we were starting to do some better things. "I want to be out there with my guys." Glancing at the black brace on his right hand, Weeden quietly answered questions. He seemed caught off guard when told about Chudzinskis comment that his job may not be waiting for him. "I dont worry about that stuff," Weeden said. Running back Trent Richardson isnt concerned about who he lines up with in the backfield. "It really doesnt matter to me. Im behind my quarterback 100 per cent, whoever he is," Richardson said. "Im glad people have been sleeping on Hoyer. So when he comes out to surprise people, itd be a bigger shock to the world. Hes a smart dude." For Hoyer, the chance to start for the Browns is a dream. The 27-year-old grew up in Cleveland. It will be the second career start for the fifth-year QB, who appeared in Arizonas season finale last year against San Francisco and completed 19 of 34 passes for 225 yards. However, Hoyer, who was waived by New England, Pittsburgh and Arizona in a nine-month span last year, gained invaluable experience and the confidence to do it again. "Every situation is unique and this what I came here for -- to play," said Hoyer, who signed with Cleveland in May. "You dont come here to be just a guy, and I think anybody who plays this position in this league, they want to be on the field. But unfortunately, there can only be one." Hoyer started the exhibition finale after Campbell fell ill in Chicago. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 307 yards and a TD with two interceptions. Campbell, who has made 71 career starts, was not available in the locker room. Chudzinski said Campbell handled not starting with class. "Hes a team player," Chudzinski said. "He said hell be ready if we need him." ---- NOTES: Little, who has dropped several passes, was dropped himself as Chudzinski said WRs Davone Bess and Josh Gordon, back from a two-game suspension, will start. Little has also had off-field issues with several traffic citations. ... DE Ahtyba Rubin practiced after missing two games with a calf injury. ... G Shawn Lauvao is "closer" to returning after being sidelined following ankle surgery. ' ' '