The Houston Rockets visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in a Western Conference showdown, hoping to do something they haven’t done in 15 seasons.
Sweep the regular-season series.
Houston won the first three games, starting with an Oct. 25 blowout in Houston (128-108), but the last two have been decided by four or fewer points.
And while both teams enter the game having won seven of their last nine, the Rockets’ run stretches back to the beginning of 2025.
Houston, second in the Western Conference and 1 1/2 games ahead of third-place Memphis, is on a four-game winning streak and has won 10 of its last 12, starting on Jan. 5.
The Rockets beat Boston 114-112 on Monday behind a franchise-record-tying 10 3-pointers from Dillon Brooks, then knocked off Atlanta on Tuesday, building an 16-point fourth-quarter advantage and surviving a furious rally by the Hawks before claiming a 100-96 victory.
As for the Grizzlies, they had their six-game winning streak snapped in overpowering fashion by the New York Knicks on Monday, losing 143-106 — Memphis’ worst defeat of the season. The Grizzlies committed 26 turnovers and the Knicks converted the mistakes into 36 points. Memphis also gave up 17 offensive boards resulting in 28 points.
“We were just out of sync from the start,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We didn’t have it for 40 minutes.”
Usually sure-handed guard Desmond Bane committed a team-high six turnovers.
“We had so many uncharacteristic moments in the game defensively and offensively, and it was definitely not our best night,” Jenkins said.
Houston has found its footing this season behind Brooks, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green.
Green scored 25 in the win over the Hawks, including 12 in the third quarter. Sengun finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Brooks has made 13 3-pointers in the team’s past two games.
Green, in his fourth season, leads the Rockets with a 21.3 scoring average. More importantly, he has been durable, riding a streak of 150 consecutive starts.
“It’s something you don’t take for granted,” said Houston coach Ime Udoka, in his second season with the team. “I know he hasn’t missed a game since I’ve been here.
“He plays through everything. He plays through injuries and pains and things most guys would sit out from. It takes a certain amount of toughness, for sure. Look at him … he’s not the most physical, but (has) that toughness to play through everything.”
Udoka said he realized quickly that Green was different.
“We knew (about Green’s toughness) last year when he played all 82 (regular-season games),” Udoka said. “And it shows in his competitiveness and his mental and physical toughness.”
Since Jan. 1, Green has scored 25 or more points in 10 of the team’s 14 games. He recorded only eight games of 25 or more in the previous two months-plus covering 32 games.
Thompson has made his contributions, as well. Since Jan. 5, he is one of only four players in the NBA averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Returning home after Monday’s road game may prove beneficial to the Grizzlies. They are 19-5 at FedExForum and recently completed a sweep of a four-game homestand. Their last home loss came Jan. 9, 119-115 to the Rockets.
–Field Level Media
