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After James Harden pulled the Rockets to within
98-96 on a technical free throw with 6:42 remaining, Morant
drilled two 3-pointers, and completed a three-point play as
Memphis reclaimed a 114-105 lead with just over two minutes to
play. It was yet another dynamic performance for the rookie
point guard, who finished 10-for-11 from the floor.
Dillon Brooks added 24 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point
range, while Jonas Valanciunas and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 19
and 15 points, respectively.
The Grizzlies surged to the lead in the second quarter and
mustered hasty responses when the Rockets took brief leads in
the third and fourth.
Harden scored a game-high 41 points but shot just 13 of 37
overall and missed 14 of 19 3-pointers. Houston played without
guard Russell Westbrook (rest), with his replacement Ben
McLemore producing 14 points on 5 of 12 shooting.
Eric Gordon added 23 points off the bench for the Rockets, who
shot just 31.1 percent (14 of 45) from behind the arc. Clint
Capela finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets.
Harden poured in 17 points in the opening period on 6-of-8
shooting, yet the Rockets couldn't shake Memphis. The Grizzlies
erased what was an 11-point deficit in roughly three minutes,
pulling even at 22-22 when Valanciunas nailed an 11-foot jumper
at the 4:29 mark of the first.
The Rockets reclaimed a 39-32 lead early in the second before
the Grizzlies exploded and seized control.
Memphis reeled off a blistering 27-8 run, with Jackson scoring
13 points during that stretch while Morant recorded three
assists.
The Rockets fell into a 12-point hole and had to scrap and claw
to cut the deficit to 67-61 at halftime. Their defense was
subpar, with Memphis shooting 56.5 percent in the first half
while recording 16 fast-break points.
Jackson, Morant and Valanciunas all recorded 13 points by the
break, with Morant adding six assists.
--Field Level Media
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