Memphis Grizzlies Fall To Houston In Preseason Opener

Your Memphis Grizzlies are action tonight for a preseason Western Conference showdown in Birmingham, Alabama against the Houston Rockets.

Memphis Grizzlies Starting Lineup:

Mike Conley

Garrett Temple

Chandler Parsons

JaMychal Green

Marc Gasol

First Quarter:

The Memphis Grizzlies start off the game a Garret Temple corner three pointer off a Chandler Parsons assist. Follow that corner three with a defensive stop and a Mike Conley three pointer, his first since last season! Memphis extends their lead to 6-0.

The Rockets came storming back to get back on a 10-2 run to give Houston a 10-9 lead early in the first quarter. Former Grizzly James Ennis adding four points in three minutes.

At the first timeout in the first quarter, Memphis led the Rockets 15-10 behind solid physical defense, and good ball movement on the offensive end of the floor. Green leads the Grizzlies with five points, followed by Parsons with four points.

Memphis’ bench unit showed a lot of spark, and for a guy nicknamed “slow-mo” Kyle Anderson was excellent for the Grizzlies bench unit. Anderson had a steal and two buckets off the bench in his first four minutes of play.

The Memphis Grizzlies finished the first quarter leading the first quarter leading the Houston Rockets 32-31 following a solid first quarter of play. Memphis shot 60 percent from the field.

Grizzlies Rotations:

The Memphis Grizzlies first round of substitutions were Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Anderson, and Dillon Brooks. Omri Casspi entered for Parsons at the six minute mark in the first quarter. Grizzlies guard Shelvin Mack replaced Mike Conley around the five minute mark as well.

Second Quarter:

The second quarter started off with the referee’s trying to gain control of the game. The Rockets earned a technical foul, and Casspi drilled the free throw for the Grizzlies.

The matchup with Houston and the officials continued as three separate technical fouls were dished out within the first four minutes of the second quarter. By the seven minute mark, the Grizzlies starters outside of Garrett Temple which Selden replaced was in the game.

Towards the end of the second quarter, Memphis fell victim to a team that pushes pace against a team that wants to push pace. A lot 1 on four fast breaks that Memphis did not convert, which not many teams would.

Memphis started to get lost in giving in to the ‘Harden effect’ which is giving up too many points at the free throw line. The Grizzlies lost their pace and overall advantage to the Rockets towards the end of the second quarter leaving the Grizzlies trailing the Rockets 64-59 at the end of two.

Grizzlies Rotations:

Grizzlies guard Wayne Selden joined the Grizzlies bench unit as their third guard off the bench. Temple returned off the bench to floor after the 5:30 mark in the second quarter. It seems Selden is the third, possibly fourth guard on this roster. MarShon Brooks is out tonight due to illness.

Third Quarter:

The third quarter started off horribly for the Memphis Grizzlies as the Rockets continued their 12-0 run going back to the second quarter. The Rockets built their lead up to 11 as the Grizzlies took a quick timeout. Memphis started off the third quarter just like they finished the second. No pressure on both ends of the floor. Garrett Temple ended the Rockets following the timeout. Memphis then put together several solid possessions to get the Grizzlies within three in four minutes.

Memphis struggled defending James Harden, and Harden entered his zone which he couldn’t be stopped. Harden went on a run of his own that put the Rockets up by double digits. Memphis ended that ugly third quarter trailing the Houston Rockets by 16.

Fourth Quarter:

The Memphis Grizzlies started the fourth quarter trailing big, and their play continued to worsen throughout the final frame. Not completely their faults of course.  A lot of units that we will never see again, while the Rockets continued to play their starting core. Memphis could only do so much with their bench unit.

Memphis ends up falling to the Houston Rockets by a score of 131-115. Memphis will head into Friday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks looking to improve on their first preseason game.