The NBA regular season continues with the Rockets taking on the Grizzlies on the road. The Rockets had a previous record of 12-9, ranking eighth in the West, and the Rockets played significantly fewer games than other teams, and the Nuggets even played 5 more games than the Rockets (17-9), but the Rockets were able to maintain a winning rate close to 6 percent, relying on the league's second-best defensive efficiency! However, the Rockets' home and away performance this season is at two extremes, 11-1 at home (except for the opening loss to the Warriors, and then 11 consecutive wins), and 1-8 on the road (only one win over the defending champion Nuggets). Udoka's adjustment methods for the team are really tough enough, and the cornerstones Jalen Green and Shin Jing did not perform well, and they could only sit on the cold bench in the fourth quarter! The Rockets suffered bad news before the game, with Amen Thompson and Tate missing due to illness.
The Grizzlies started the season with a 6-17 record and finished 13th in the West. With two games left before Morant returns from the suspension, Morant himself said in an interview that he feels very guilty about the mistakes he has made and the impact on the team's record. And the Grizzlies have indeed reached the point where no one is available, Adams and Clark, the two interior pillars are out for the season, Smart and Kennard have been injured for a long time, and Rose has been pushed up to play the starter (no disrespect, the main thing is that Rose's physical condition can no longer support the starting position). In the first two meetings of the season, the Rockets won by 20 points and 13 points. Grizzlies starters: Rose + Bane + Vince Williams + Jaren Jackson + Biyombo.
Rockets starters: VanVleet + Jalen Green + Brooks + Jabari Smith + Shin Jing. At the beginning of the game, the Rockets encountered a dismount, Jackson singled Jabari Smith, Vince hit a three-pointer, VanVleet threw + three points to stop the bleeding, Biyombo and Jaren Jackson scored consecutive singles. Shen Jing's state is very average, the Rockets are also in a hurry, Rose's three-point + Vince's whistle strong shot in the middle of the game, the difference is in double digits! Biyombo bullied Shen Jing continuously, Shen Jing completed 2+1 to stop the bleeding, Roddy immediately responded with three points, and the Grizzlies led by 15 points! In the second half, the veteran Jeff Green hit consecutive strong attacks and threw shots, Jaren Jackson and Vince blossomed inside and out, and Ethan took off to stop the bleeding! After the first quarter, the Rockets fell behind the Grizzlies 14-29.
Coming back in the second quarter, Ethan continued to shoot three-pointers, rushed to grab rebounds and scored baskets, Jeff Green was also making kills, and the Rockets were trying to chase points with their benches. Jaren Jackson completed 2+1 to stop the bleeding, and Eason and Brooks stopped the Grizzlies. In the middle of the game, Jaren Jackson continued to bully the veteran Green, and Bane made a tough basket + stepped back for three points to open up the gap again. In the second half, Jabari Smith stopped the bleeding with three points, Shen Jing dunked violently, and Jalen Green made a difficult pick! Aldama and Bane continued to rain three-pointers, and Jalen Green also responded with three points, and at the end of the quarter, Jabari Smith pushed Aldama and received a first-degree malicious foul, and at halftime, the Rockets trailed the Grizzlies 45-55. Rose withdrew from the game early due to left hamstring soreness.
At the start of the second half, Jaren Jackson continued to wreak havoc on the inside, Jalen Green scored on a free throw, and then hit another three-pointer, Brooks continued to score three points, and Bane responded with a burst inside and outside shot. In the middle of the game, VanVleet and Bane continued to shoot three-pointers, and Aldama and Brooks were also shooting three-pointers, but in the second half, the Grizzlies' offensive efficiency declined, Brooks and Green made consecutive free throws to lead the team to overtake the score, Biyombo overturned Shen Jing easily dunked to stop the bleeding, and Aaron Holiday also hit a three-pointer. At the end of the third quarter, the Rockets led the Grizzlies 75-74. Udoka has this kind of courage, whoever doesn't play well will be off, and there is no cornerstone or core of the team, and the overall efficiency of the substitutes is very high in the case of continuous loss of points in the starters.
In the fourth quarter, Jeff Green continued to make kills, and combined with Brooks to stop the Grizzlies. After Bane threw to stop the bleeding, he taunted his former teammate Brooks and ate a technical foul! Shen Jing scored consecutive points in the middle of the period, and Vince Williams scored three points to stop the bleeding. At the decisive moment, Brooks ate Biyombo and Aldama in a row, Bane scored a jumper, Jaren Jackson fought against 2+1 to tie the score, VanVleet hit a jumper, and then Brooks hit a three-point shot against Bane! Ethan counterattacked and dunked, and the Grizzlies adopted foul tactics, and finally the Rockets defeated the Grizzlies 103-96, completing a 17-point reversal and ushering in a five-game winning streak! Grizzlies stats, Bane 28 points and 13 rebounds, Jaren Jackson 22 points and 4 blocks, Biyombo 10 points and 9 rebounds, Vince Williams 11 points and 8 rebounds.
Rocket statistics, Brooks 26 points and 7 rebounds, Shen Jing 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, Jalen Green 14 points and 4 rebounds, VanVleet 16 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals, Jeff Green 12 points and 4 rebounds, Eason 11 points and 8 rebounds. Dillon Brooks made a great contribution in this game! 2 points in the first half and 24 points in the second half, several former teammates of the Grizzlies were obviously very unkind to Brooks, from verbal provocations to some small actions on the confrontation, but Brooks played very calmly, and stepped forward at a critical moment to lead the team to defeat his old club! After this game, the Rockets surpassed the Pelicans, Lakers and Clippers in a row and rose to sixth in the West!