Rockets Claw Back to Maul Grizzlies, 128-108, for Season’s First Win
Flipping the Script. Evolving Duo. First Trip.
Staring a six point deficit in the face at halftime, the Rockets eagerly hoped to avoid a second straight loss at home to start the season. Seeking to avoid this conundrum, Houston bursted out of the gates in the third quarter, outscoring Memphis by 21 points in the frame, en route to a 128-108 win on Friday night. The victory is Houston’s first of the season after a disappointing 110-105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in their first game. After collapsing against Charlotte, the Rockets rallied from 12 points down to defeat the Grizzlies for their first home win of the season. Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. bounced back with solid games after poor performances in the opener. Smith Jr. scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Brooks added 18 points against his former team, as Houston improved to 4-1 against Memphis after aquiring Dillon Brooks from the Grizzlies.
Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun are already beginning to show signs of the All-Star duo many fans are anticipating to see on the court. Green led the Rockets with 22 points, and Sengun added 16 points and 15 rebounds. Green finished the game shooting 8-for-21 from the field, but improved his shot from distance. After struggling with a 5-for-15 performance from beyond the arc on Opening Night, Green settled in for a calmer and more efficent 4-for-8 shooting display from distance against the Grizz. Houston held Memphis star Ja Morant to an average 24 points, as the Rockets were more tenacious defensively overall on Friday night.
Houston will now travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs in the first of two straight games in the Alamo City, before capping off the trip with a visit to Dallas to play the Mavericks . It’s the first road trip of the year for the Rockets, as the squad looks to improve upon last season’s 14-27 record away from Toyota Center. The Spurs are coming off an opening night loss to the Mavericks, 120-109, and San Antonio is still in rebuilding mode despite showcasing second-year phenom Victor Wembanyama on their roster. The Rockets should have enough firepower to win at least one, if not both of those contests in the Alamo City. The Spurs should improve upon their 22-win campaing last season, but they aren’t expected to make the playoffs this season. Now, with two games in the books, Houston stares into the face of one of last season’s biggest challenges for the squad: playing on the road.