Despite another historic night from Jaren Jackson Jr, the Grizzlies fell to the Rockets for the second time this season. With a final score of 117-104, Memphis loses their third consecutive game and continues its race to the bottom of the Western Conference.
Let’s get into it.
It was hailed as another meeting with former Grizzly Dillon Brooks, but the Rockets’ greatest weapon would come from their bench in the form of 25 points from Tari Eason.
The Grizzlies were missing their lead scorer in Desmond Bane, and even a career-high 44 points from Jaren Jackson Jr and a new season-high 19 points for Derrick Rose could not compensate for Bane’s absence.
Being shorthanded is the story of the season for Memphis and the half-a-dozen wins they have managed have been largely thanks to Desmond Bane, who averages 24 points per game and has an assist percentage of 28%.
Memphis was able to capitalize on the Rockets’ poor ball handling, converting 19 Houston turnovers into 23 points for the Grizzlies. But Houston beat them on the boards (58-39), from three-point range (37.5% vs. 26.3%), and the free-throw line (73% vs. 70.6%), and their bench outscored Memphis’ bench 58-19.
It was the second 40-point game in a row for Jaren Jackson Jr, who finished the night with a career-high 44 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and one block. Followed by 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists from Derrick Rose, and 10 points and 7 rebounds from Vince Williams Jr.
From the second unit, Santi Aldama put up 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks while Ziaire Williams closed out the night with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
There are not a lot of positive things to say about the Grizzlies’ performance outside of Jackson and Rose, just more of the same ongoing struggle.
T minus five days and two more games until the return of Ja Morant.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will face off against the Rockets again Friday night, this time on their home court. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
