Posted 2/05 at 10:03 PM
The Memphis Grizzlies came into tonight’s contest looking to make a statement against a team that they were neck and neck with in an ultra-competitive Western Conference, but walked away looking for answers in a 101-83 loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Grizzlies played their Southwest Division rival Rockets close throughout the first half, but allowed what was a seven point disadvantage fifteen seconds into the final stanza turn into a 20 point deficit midway through the fourth that put the game out of reach.
The loss puts the Grizzlies at 26-23 on the season, and marked their second loss in the last three games at FedExForum after winning 11 straight. The Grizzlies loss to the Rockets continued to illustrate their struggles against division opponents, as they are now 2-6 against Southwest Division opponents. The Rockets are now 27-22.
The Grizzlies opened up the contest knowing that the result of tonight’s contest could has a major impact on the team’s immediate and future standing in the Western Conference standings picture. The significance of the contest was not lost on either team, as each team played every possession with a playoff level intensity on both sides of the floor in the game’s opening moments.
The Grizzlies responded to the challenge early, jumping out to a 10-3 lead to start the contest and then pushed the advantage to 24-16 later in the quarter but were unable to hold on as the Rockets displayed their tenacious style of play that has helped them earn the tag as one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season. With Rudy Gay on the bench with two first quarter fouls the Grizzlies got a nice lift from Sam Young, who had six points in the quarter. The Rockets were able to prevent the Grizzlies from moving their lead to double digits and finished the quarter tied at 25 apiece.
In the second quarter the Grizzlies ratcheted up their defensive effort, holding the Rockets to .320 (8-of-25) from the field. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, while their defensive effort was impressive, their inability to keep the Rockets off the line haunted them. The Grizzlies picked up their fifth team foul three minutes into the second quarter, leading to 12 free-throw attempts by the Rockets in the quarter.
The Grizzlies failure to take control of the game in the first half also stemmed from their lack of control on the glass, something that has become a strong suit for this Grizzlies team. Coming into the contest the Grizzlies were the top rated offensive rebounding team in the NBA and the fifth best team overall on the glass, but in the first half the Grizzlies were -10 in overall rebounding, allowing 14 Rockets second chance points to four for the Grizzlies.
Trailing 50-44 to start the second half the Grizzlies looked to finally establish themselves in the middle against an undersized Rockets front line. Marc Gasol responded with 10 points and four rebounds in the quarter, which helped the Grizzlies double the Rockets production in the paint in the third quarter alone, 20-10.
The Grizzlies closed the Rockets lead to 61-60 at the five minute mark on a Gasol turnaround jumper, but that was the closest the Grizzlies would get the rest of the way, as the Rockets responded with a 10-2 run that re-established Houston and set up the knock-out punch that would come later in the fourth quarter.
In the fourth the Grizzlies opened with Gasol and Hasheem Thabeet to try to expose the Rockets lack of size down-low, but the Rockets countered with a 15-4 run to start the quarter, effectively putting the game away for Houston.
The Grizzlies finished the game 1-of-9 from behind the arc, and their single three-point field goal came with 23 seconds remaining in the contest.
Gasol led the Grizzlies with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Zach Randolph scored 14 points to go along with eight rebounds. Aaron Brooks led all scorers with 19 points and eight rebounds, with his backcourt partner, Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry each chipping in with 17 points off the bench.
Posted 2/05 at 10:03 PM
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