featured-image

Recap: Rockets vs. Grizzlies 03/04/2015

A big night from Terrence Jones wasn’t enough as Marc Gasol hit a game-winning runner to give Memphis a 102-100 win.

Jones scored 9 of his 21 in the fourth quarter to spark a late 14-2 run to erase a 12-point Memphis lead. Jones has averaged 19.2 points per game on 65.3% shooting since returning to the Rockets starting lineup on February 23.

James Harden – back after a one game suspension – tied the game on a beautiful step-back jumper then cut to the lane to attempt to give Houston the lead, but the ball was stripped without a foul whistle and Gasol was able to hit the game-winner with 0.1 seconds remaining.

Harden finished with 18 points and 13 assists (his second-highest assist total of the season). It marked his 16th double-double of the season, but the Rockets fell to 12-4 on the year when the Beard has a double-double.

Donatas Motiejunas had a 10-point first quarter that included two three-pointers. Motiejunas has gone 11-19 (.579) from beyond-the-arc in the last five games. While he didn’t score after the first, he still notched his 42nd game this season in double-figures. He only had 24 double-figure scoring games in his first two seasons combined.

The Grizzlies started the third and fourth quarters with 6-0 and 10-0 runs, respectively, as they erased a Rockets lead that got as large as 12.

Despite attempting the sixth most free throws in the NBA at 24.8 per game, the Rockets managed to get to the line a season-low-tying five times. The Grizzlies were able to get to the line for 17 free throw attempts.

The loss tonight ended the Rockets’ season-long five-game home winning streak and resulted and a 2-2 season-series split with their division rival.

The Rockets host the Pistons on Friday.