Alperen Sengun collected 32 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 assists, Jalen Inexperienced added 27 factors and Fred VanVleet contributed 22 to guide the Houston Rockets previous the Memphis Grizzlies 119-115 for his or her fifth straight highway victory.
Ja Morant paced the Grizzlies with 27 factors, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 21 factors and eight rebounds. Santi Aldama got here off the bench to complete with 12 factors and 9 rebounds. Jackson, the Western Convention Defensive Participant of the Month for December, had a season-high six blocks.
Morant and Aldama returned to motion Thursday after transient injury-induced absences. Morant had been out since Dec. 27 with a shoulder harm, and Aldama hadn’t performed since Dec. 26 due to an ankle sprain. Desmond Bane additionally returned after lacking Monday’s win over Dallas with an ankle harm. He scored 16 factors.
The Grizzlies and Rockets, who’ve the second- and third-most wins within the Western Convention groups behind Oklahoma Metropolis, met within the first of three video games towards every one other this month. The Rockets moved 1 1/2 video games forward of the Grizzlies. The 2 groups will play Monday in Houston and Jan. 30 again in Memphis.
Memphis shot 50 %, however was undone by 20 turnovers, which Houston transformed into 31 Houston.
The Grizzlies trailed by 10 early within the fourth quarter, however scrapped again to chop the deficit to 115-114 with 2:49 to go. Aaron Vacation preserved the win for Houston with two free throws — his solely factors of the sport — with 2.6 seconds left.
The Rockets constructed a 17-point lead within the first half, principally behind 18 factors from Sengun.
Houston used a 25-9 run to go up 31-19 within the first quarter, and the Rockets prolonged the result in 61-44 halfway by the second quarter following a hook shot by Sengun.
Memphis rallied within the closing minutes of the half to trim the Houston benefit to 68-63 on the break.
Inexperienced had 15 factors and VanVleet had 10 within the first half for Houston. Former Grizzlies’ massive man Steven Adams had seven rebounds within the half.
The Grizzlies shot 52.1 % within the half and had been led by Jackson (14 factors) and Morant (11). Aldama had 10 factors and 5 rebounds.
–Area Stage Media
