The Houston Rockets get an opportunity to record the league’s first hat trick over the Grizzlies when the clubs meet for a third time Friday night in Memphis.
The Rockets followed up on a 111-91 home romp over the Grizzlies on Nov. 22 with a 117-104 victory Wednesday night in another meeting in Houston. Former Grizzlies defensive ace Dillon Brooks contributed 13 and 11 points in the wins.
As the Grizzlies await Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension to run its course next week, they have faced two other opponents three times apiece this season. They have managed one win each against the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz.
Their 105-91 triumph over the Jazz came under similar circumstances as Friday’s meeting with the Rockets. The game also was at Memphis, after Utah had won the first two matchups between the teams by a total of 30 points.
The Rockets bring a four-game winning streak to town, however they have been a far better team at home. They have won just once in nine road outings, although that came on Dec. 8 with a 114-106 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Houston has taken different paths to its two home wins over Memphis.
In the first meeting, Jalen Green poured in 34 points while the Rockets limited the Grizzlies to 32.9-percent shooting overall and 21.9 percent from 3-point range.
In Wednesday’s rematch, Memphis improved to 42.7 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome 25 points by Tari Eason and 20 by Jabari Smith Jr.
Eason, who averaged 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds as a rookie last season, has been a revelation of late. Now seemingly fully recovered from a stress reaction in his left leg and a subsequent illness, Eason has totaled 43 points and 28 rebounds in Houston’s last two games.
“He is just showing what we already know he can do,” Smith said after Wednesday’s win. “The energy he brings is contagious. He plays hard, no matter what. Sickness, he’s been hurt and came back playing hard. That is just how he is.”
Houston kept its winning streak alive despite 44 points by Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who has been on quite a run of his own.
Jackson has averaged 33.4 points in his last five games. He has shot 55.6 percent from the floor in that stretch and made 16 of his 33 attempts from 3-point range.
With just two games remaining before Morant is scheduled to make his season debut Tuesday at New Orleans, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins notes the goal now is to keep Jackson rolling.
“Obviously, we’ve leaned on him and (Desmond Bane) a lot early in the season,” Jenkins noted. “As we get Ja back (and) other guys, the usage rate will change, but that’s on me to continue making sure that I’m putting him in the right spots and having that healthy balance.”
Memphis also currently is without Marcus Smart, who has missed the last 12 games with a sprained left foot. He is tentatively slated to return Monday, when the Grizzlies open a two-day, two-game trip at Oklahoma City.
–Field Level Media