Memphis Grizzlies dominate Houston in the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten
By Chris Kern
After struggling through the first three quarters, the Memphis Grizzlies (3-0) rallied behind Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to beat the Houston Rockets.
The Memphis Grizzlies struggled for a lot of this game, but they made big plays when it mattered most. Offense couldn’t get into rhythm, and the defense struggled to rebound. However, a win on the road in Houston to stay undefeated is always a good thing.
First Quarter
Marc Gasol got a few easy dunks early on to go up 8-4. The Rockets answered quickly as they got up 13-8 after going on a 9-0 run. The Grizzlies really struggled to stop penetratio, but when they did, Houston just lobbed it to Capela. The Grizzlies’ bench made a couple buckets to end the quarter. Rockets led 26-24 after one, and Marc Gasol led the way with 10 points.
Second Quarter
Grizzlies really struggled to defend the basket without fouling. Rockets went on a big 15-4 run to go up 41-30. The Grizzlies though had big sequences where James Ennis threw a lob to Martin off of a jumpball followed by a Gasol full-court outlet pass to a Ennis for the slam.
Grizzlies started to defend better, but Eric Gordon hit a few 3’s to help Houston sustain a decent lead. Harden’s pull-up 3 was good as the Rockets went two for one. Harden hit an easy buzzer-beating layup after Harrison’s two free throws.
Gasol and Gordon both had 18 points in the first half. Rockets had six 3’s while Memphis had none.
Third Quarter
Jarrell Martin hit the Grizzlies’ first 3-pointer of the game. Rockets went on a run though to go up 65-53. The Grizzlies made a couple basket, but the Rockets got it right back out to 10. Houston turned it over a few possessions in a row as the Grizzlies cut into the lead.
Nene’s technical is followed by a Chalmers’ stepback 3 cut the Houston lead to two. The Rockets ended the quarter up 76-70.
Fourth Quarter
Grizzlies struggled to start the fourth quarter as the Rockets went up 83-73. They made some shots as Tyreke Evans hit a tough 3 to cut Houston’s lead to 3.
Mike Conley hit a 3 to tie it up then dropped a dime to Ennis and-1 to go up 91-88. Conley hit another 3 to go up 94-90, and that was all she wrote. Marc Gasol blocked James Harden’s layup to ice the game. A few more free throws made it 98-90, Grizzlies as they ended the game on a 20-2 run.
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The Memphis Grizzlies struggled for a lot of this game, but they kept battling. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol both made some big plays. The bench didn’t score as much as they did the past two games, but they still had a positive impact on the game.
The Grizzlies improved to 3-0 as they’ll face the Mavericks on Wednesday and Thursday with one game in each team’s arena. They also have the Rockets three more times in the next couple weeks to end the season series.