The second and third-placed sides in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, squared off against each other on Thursday night at the FedExForum. The home side registered a narrow 120-119 win against the Rockets in a nail-biting thriller. Taylor Jenkins’ side, which was without their star guard, Ja Morant, displayed a strong character through their combined team efforts.
On the other hand, the Houston Rockets, despite leading the home side through the first three quarters, couldn’t close out the game with a victory. After losing all three of their previous clashes against the Rockets this season, the Grizzlies ended their three-game head-to-head losing streak with a one-point comeback win.
Luke Kennard, Desmond Bane, And Jaren Jackson Jr. Shine In Grizzlies Win Over Rockets
The Houston Rockets kicked off the game on a dominant note, with a 10-point lead at the end of the first half. Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring with 15 first-half points, followed by Amen Thompson (14) and Dillon Brooks (12). On the other hand, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 12 points each in the first half.
However, in the third quarter, the home side dominated the Rockets 36-30 and slashed the lead to four points. After managing a two-point lead for less than a minute in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies held their nerve to beat the Rockets by just one point.
"That's what we do. That's our DNA." 😤
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 31, 2025
Desmond Bane on how the Grizzlies were able to battle back against the Rockets 💪
(w/@TaylorRooks) pic.twitter.com/DDA7IvMjcH
Bane was the leading scorer for the Grizzlies with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, followed by Luke Kennard‘s efficient performance with 22 points while shooting 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Jackson Jr. added 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists, including his game-winning free shots.
On the other hand, despite leading the Grizzlies for most of the game, the Rockets ended their four-game winning streak. While Dillon Brooks (22) and rookie Amen Thompson (21) continued their red-hot form, shooting guard Jalen Green (25) also made a significant contribution in their loss to the Grizzlies.
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With this win, the Grizzlies improved to 32-16 and kept their third spot, while the second-placed Houston fell to a 32-15 record. In their next games, Memphis will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, and the Rockets will host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
Also Read: REPORT: Memphis Grizzlies Get Brutal Injury Update On Star Player Ja Morant
