James Harden scored 57 points for the Houston Rockets as the Memphis Grizzlies
fell 112-94 on Monday night in Toyota Center. The Grizzlies dropped to 19-24 on
the season and 8-15 on the road. The Rockets improved to 25-17 overall and have
won nine of their last 10 games.
Memphis committed a season-high 24 turnovers, allowing 27 points off them. The
Grizzlies’ previous high was 21 at San Antonio on Jan. 5. Houston committed 14
turnovers in the game, leading to 19 points for Memphis.
Mike Conley scored 14 points and handed out seven assists. All of Conley’s
points came in the second half. Garrett Temple also finished with 14 points (4-6
3P), cracking double figures for the 21st time this year. Jaren Jackson Jr.
added 12 points and a game-high three blocks. Jackson Jr. has scored 12 or more
points in seven consecutive games, the longest double-digit scoring streak of
his career. Omri Casspi also had 12 points and a couple steals off the bench.
Casspi has reached double-digits for the sixth time this season and the first
time since Dec. 17 at Golden State. Shelvin Mack chipped in with 10 points and
seven assists. Jevon Carter finished with eight points (2-4 3P) and two assists
in his first career start.
The Grizzlies outshot the Rockets in the game, making 36-of-71 (.507) shots
compared to 37-of-84 (.440) by Houston. The Rockets made eight more
three-pointers however, going 18-for-48 (.375) while the Grizzlies were
10-for-22 (.455). Memphis struggled at the free throw line, going 12-for-22
(.545) while Houston was 20-for-22 (.909) at the stripe. The Grizzlies
outrebounded the Rockets (43-36), but Houston had more second chance points
(14-10).
Harden set a new season-high, and has now scored at least 30 points in 17
consecutive games, surpassing Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history. Harden
has also now reached 50 points three times this season. Danuel House Jr.
finished with 15 points. Austin Rivers finished with 14 points off the bench,
scoring 8 of them in the third quarter.
The Grizzlies improved from their third quarter, going 10-for-19 (.526) from the
field in the fourth, but only made one three-pointer in the period. Memphis also
outscored Houston 18-8 in the paint during the final quarter, but couldn’t
overcome the 17-point deficit they began the quarter with. The Rockets made
13-of-28 (.464) three-pointers throughout the second half.
Houston found their shooting stroke coming out of halftime, connecting on
11-of-21 (9-16 3P) shots. Memphis shot efficiently, 8-of-19 (3-7 3P), but
continued to mishandle the ball by turning it over seven times in the period.
Rockets used an 11-0 run from 5:12 to 3:17 in the quarter to build a lead 87-70
at the end of the third.
The Rockets shot just 5-for-20 (.250) from long range in the first half, and
18-for-45 (.400) overall. The Grizzlies made 6-of-10 (.600) threes and 18-of-33
(.545) total shots. The Grizzlies assisted on 16 of their 18 field goals in the
half, but also committed 15 turnovers – the most in a half this year – which led
to 14 points for Houston. Harden already had 36 points by halftime, but no other
Rocket scored more than seven points in the first half. Houston made all 13 free
throws, while Memphis was 6-for-13 (.462), to help lead 54-48 at the break
The Grizzlies started the game hot, making 5-of-9 (.611) threes in the first
quarter, with Carter and Temple each hitting a pair, and shooting 11-of-18
(.611) from the field. Memphis assisted on nine of their 11 baskets, but
committed six turnovers during the quarter. The Rockets struggled, going
3-for-10 (.300) from three and 8-for-22 (.364) from the field, but Harden scored
15 points in the quarter. The teams traded leads seven times, but the Grizzlies
went on a 10-0 run that lasted 2:08 to help lead 29-24 at the end of the first.
Harden continued to lead the Houston offense in the second quarter, scoring 21
of the team’s 30 points in the period. The Grizzlies shot well enough in the
quarter, going 7-for-15 (.467), but turned the ball over eight times, tying a
season-high. The Rockets scored 12 points off those Grizzlies miscues, while
committing four turnovers and conceding four points of their own.
The Grizzlies will return home to try to sweep the season series against the
Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. CT in FedExForum Tune in to
FOX Sports Southeast presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners or listen on 92.9
FM ESPN to follow the action.
Fans who want to support the Memphis Grizzlies and purchase 2018-19 Season
Tickets or 10-Game Flex Packs can do so now by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going
online to grizzlies.com/tickets. Single Game Tickets are also available for
purchase at the FedExForum Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations,
ticketmaster.com, online at grizzlies.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX.
For more information on the Grizzlies, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or
follow on Twitter and Instagram (@memgrizz).
Download or Update the Official Grizzlies App
Player: Jevon Carter
Player: Omri Casspi
Player: Mike Conley
Player: Marc Gasol
Player: JaMychal Green
Player: Justin Holiday
Player: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Player: Shelvin Mack
Player: Joakim Noah
Player: Garrett Temple
Media Content: https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/postgame/hou-190114
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Memphis Grizzlies, Jevon Carter, Omri Casspi, Mike
Conley, Marc Gasol, JaMychal Green, Justin Holiday, Jaren Jackson Jr., Shelvin
Mack, Joakim Noah, Garrett Temple, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies
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