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Rockets 105, Grizzlies 96
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
HOUSTON — With all five members of their revamped starting lineup scoring in double figures, the Houston Rockets ran past the league-leading Memphis Grizzlies 105-96 Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Guard James Harden scored a game-high 21 points while rookie center Tarik Black recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds as the Rockets (14-4) posted 25 fast-break points to blitz Memphis (15-3), which had its five-game winning streak snapped.
The Grizzlies, armed with the frontcourt tandem of center Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, were dominated on the boards. Houston recorded a 52-39 rebounding advantage and converted 23 offensive boards into 20 second-chance points. Memphis, averaging just 12.8 turnovers per game, committed 21 turnovers that Houston turned into 30 points.
Guard Jason Terry and forward Trevor Ariza scored 16 points apiece for the Rockets, who led by as many as 27 points in the third quarter. Terry recorded four steals while Harden and Ariza had three each.
Guard Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies with 15 points and six assists while swingman Tony Allen added 10 points, two steals and two blocks.
Memphis, which dismantled the Rockets 119-93 in their previous meeting this season, raced to a 16-8 lead by hitting its first eight shots. The Rockets responded with the first of a series of knockout runs, this one a 15-5 blitz that pushed Houston to a 23-21 lead on a layup by forward Donatas Motiejunas with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Leading 30-26 late in the first, the Rockets carried an 11-2 run into the second to build their first double-digit lead. Reserve center Joey Dorsey capped that run with a reverse layup, an emphatic block of Grizzlies forward Quincy Pondexter, and a follow-up dunk in transition. Houston added an 11-1 spurt later in the second quarter, led 58-46 at the break, then ran away with 15 fast-break points in their 36-point third quarter.
Motiejunas chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds for Houston.
NOTES: Grizzlies G Nick Calathes played just two of his first four available games since returning from a 20-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. The penalty included the first 13 games of this season. Memphis coach David Joerger is taking a careful approach working Calathes back into the rotation. Calathes played eight minutes in his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 23 but just one minute Sunday night at Sacramento. … Joerger partially credited a hastened pace with the Grizzlies’ exceptional start. Last season, Memphis ranked last in the league averaging 92.3 possessions per 48 minutes. They entered Wednesday night ranked 23rd at 94.4. … The Rockets recalled rookie C Clint Capela from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Developmental League because of a need for big men in practice. The Rockets are currently without C Dwight Howard (right knee) and F Terrence Jones (nerve, left leg). Rockets coach Kevin McHale announced that Jones’ return is “not on the horizon.” He anticipates Howard remaining out through the weekend.
