Grizzlies 102, Rockets 93
HOUSTON -- Forward Jeff Green paced six players in double figures as the Memphis Grizzlies continued their torrid play with a 102-93 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Memphis (9-7), winners of six of its last seven games, made 36 of 64 shots from inside the 3-point line and 21 of 23 free throws, underscoring their offensive efficiency. Green tallied a team-high 20 points while guard Courtney Lee had 17 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Guard Mike Conley scored 19.
The Grizzlies' defensive might was on display as well, holding the Rockets (5-10) without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes in the fourth quarter. Houston trailed 82-77 entering the final period but did not record a field goal until guard Jason Terry drilled a 3-point shot with 2:01 left.
Rockets guard James Harden poured in 40 points on 12-of-19 shooting, adding five rebounds and five assists to his ledger. Houston has dropped three consecutive games and seven of its last eight.
What the Rockets relied upon early was Harden, whose scorching shooting prior to the intermission kept Houston in contention despite the Grizzlies' offensive aggression and balanced offensive attack.
Other than Harden, the Rockets shot 5 for 19 in the first period, including seven misses in seven attempts from behind the 3-point arc. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, enjoyed a series of short spurts, one featuring the first of five three-point plays, this one from Conley, for an 18-11 lead.
But Harden responded by nailing a 3 on an inbounds play before later adding a layup that pulled the Rockets even at 24-24 at the 1:05 mark. When Memphis forged a 38-26 lead via a Marc Gasol dunk early in the second, Harden stepped into the void again with a pair of free throws that got the Rockets going. By the time Harden added a transition basket and another trey, the Rockets led 51-50 with 1:25 remaining in the half.
Conley responded with another three-point play, and after Green scored following an offensive rebound, the Rockets needed Harden's buzzer-beater to cut the deficit to 56-53 at the intermission. Harden closed the second quarter with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting with his teammates shooting 13 of 32 to provide minimal offensive support.
NOTES: Rockets C Dwight Howard has been cleared to participate on both ends of back-to-backs but will remain on a minutes restriction. Howard, averaging 31.9 minutes per game, has been a healthy scratch four times this season. ... Grizzlies F Zach Randolph missed his third consecutive game with right knee soreness. Randolph has played in 12 games with averages of 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds. ... Rockets G Patrick Beverley returned to the rotation after missing five games with a left ankle sprain. Beverley will continue to come off the bench despite the recent demotion of starting G Ty Lawson. ... The Grizzlies have won six of seven games following a slow start to the season, enabling Memphis coach David Joerger to offer some perspective on the Rockets' current struggles. "People were saying that about us," Joerger said. "My gosh, you're 3-6. What's wrong? Sometimes it just takes time."