Rockets Tame Grizzlies, 119-115, in Memphis Slugfest
Beale Street Bruiser. Sengun’s Stride. Green Resurgence.
Walking in Memphis, down the corridors of FedExForum, always gives this Rockets team an added boost of motivation. It’s where one of their leaders, Dillon Brooks, used to play before he came to Houston at the start of last season. The Rockets always want to win for The Villain when they face the Grizzlies, especially in Memphis. And in a crucial game between two of the top three teams in the West, the Rockets escaped Memphis with a pivotal 119-115 victory on Thursday night. Houston led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but that led evaporated quickly, as the Grizz made this a very competitive contest down the stretch. Ja Morant led Memphis with 27 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston’s readiness.
The Rockets were ready to play from the opening tip on Thursday night. Houston scored a season-high 45 points in the first quarter, but this game slowed down into a bruising and brawling physical battle after halftime. In another dominant performance, Alperen Sengun led the Rockets in all three major stat categories in the win over Memphis. Sengun registered 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, as he continues to find his stride, playing at an All-Star level, with the midway point of the season on the horizon.
And Jalen Green continued his resurgence, scoring 27 points on an efficient 11-for-21 shooting from the floor. Green is averaging 29 points per game over his last four contests. And the Rockets are 6-0 this season when Green reaches the 30-point plateau. It’s only a small sample size, but the young star may starting to display the consistency Houston has been patiently waiting for from Green since they drafted him four years ago. If Green continues playing at an All-Star level, the Rockets are going to be contending sooner rather than later. His consistency is the element Houston’s coaching staff hasn’t been able to control, but if Green finally breaks through, the Rockets are going to keep surprising people.
Although, if Houston wants to seriously contend for a title, they’ll need to be fully healthy. Tari Eason missed his tenth straight game, as he continues to deal with lower leg injury management. Head Coach Ime Udoka has insisted it’s nothing serious, but with each passing game Eason misses, the concern only rises. The Rockets need both of their Terror Twins. Amen Thompson has been thriving, but mainly since Jabari Smith Jr. went down. Thompson still plays his best when Eason is on the court. And Houston is a completely different defensive beast with Eason in the lineup. Hopefully, he can return soon, as the Rockets schedule toughens up over the next two weeks.
Up next, Houston was supposed to face the Hawks on Saturday in Atlanta. However, that game was postponed due to icy conditions and inclement weather. So instead, the Rockets get an unexpected three days off before facing these same Grizzlies in a rematch back in Houston on Monday night. It’s a quick home stop during this road heavy stretch for the Rockets, but it gives the fans a chance to keep the squad motivated in what should be another bruising battle in H-Town.