HOUSTON — Jalen Green matched his career best by scoring 42 points, concluding with a crucial layup that put Houston ahead late in the game, as the Rockets triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies with a final score of 120-118 on Monday night.
The Grizzlies found themselves trailing by four points when Jaylen Wells sank a three-pointer. Following this, Brandon Clarke’s theft of the ball led to a quick layup, allowing Memphis to take a 115-114 lead with just under a minute remaining on the clock.
Green answered back with a layup, putting the Rockets back in the lead at 116-115. A subsequent turnover by Ja Morant handed possession back to Houston. Amen Thompson was then fouled and successfully landed two free throws with 8.1 seconds left, extending the score to 118-115.
Morant missed out on two free throws right after that, while Fred VanVleet capped the scoring for Houston with another pair of free throws just 2.1 seconds before the final buzzer, sealing the victory at 120-115.
This win marked Houston’s fourth consecutive victory overall and their second straight against Memphis, having previously defeated the Grizzlies 119-115 on Thursday.
Morant dazzled with a 38-foot three-pointer that pushed Memphis to a 12-point lead about eight minutes before the game ended. However, the Rockets erupted with a 16-2 scoring surge, flipping the deficit to a 107-105 lead with 4.5 minutes remaining. Both Green and VanVleet contributed three-pointers during this run, while Thompson added six points, aiding the Rockets’ comeback.
For Memphis, Morant led the scoring with 29 points, and Desmond Bane contributed 25.
Highlights include the Grizzlies needing to improve their closing ability after maintaining a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. For the Rockets, Green’s performance showcased the level of dominance they require from him to stay competitive among the top teams in the Western Conference.
A key moment was Houston’s impressive 16-2 rally that erased what appeared to be an insurmountable deficit.
In terms of statistics, Houston outperformed Memphis on the boards, securing 15 offensive rebounds compared to just eight by the Grizzlies.
Looking ahead, the Rockets are set to visit Denver on Wednesday night, while the Grizzlies will commence a series of two games against San Antonio that same evening.
