In a great showdown between two of the best teams in the NBA's Western Conference, the Houston Rockets pulled off a close 119-115 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. With this victory, Houston not only takes the two points, but also maintains its position as the second best team in the West, ahead of Memphis by a game and a half.
It was a game that left a lot of tension, but the Rockets once again demonstrated their ability to hold on until the last second, despite some tough moments along the way.
Alperen Sengun Leads Houston Offense While Jalen Green And Fred Vanvleet Also Shine In Victory
One of the highlights of the night was the performance of Alperen Sengun, who finished with an impressive double-double of 32 points and 14 rebounds. Sengun was a key player in the win, especially in the first half, where he scored 20 points by halftime, helping the Rockets build a solid lead.
Despite some difficulties from the free throw line, where he hit only 7 of 15, his effectiveness from the field was remarkable with 12 of 20 on his attempts. The way he dominated both offensively and defensively was essential for Houston to withstand the Grizzlies' efforts down the stretch.
Another great contribution came from Jalen Green, who scored 27 points, maintaining his excellent streak of games with more than 20 points. Green had a spectacular first quarter, scoring 13 points in the first period, and continued his good work in the final quarter, where he scored eight of Houston's 18 points in that final stretch.
Green finished with a solid 11-of-21 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from the three-point line, which allowed him to remain efficient throughout the game. This was his fifth consecutive game with 20+ points, showing his consistency so far this season.
Fred VanVleet, the Rockets' veteran point guard, also had an outstanding performance. With 41 minutes on the court, the most in the game, VanVleet scored 22 points, in addition to 4 assists and 4 steals.
While he did not have an impressive shooting percentage from the field, with 8 of 13, his leadership in crucial moments was invaluable. In particular, his mid-range shot that closed the game and put Houston in a safe position was the sign of his experience and ability to handle pressure in decisive moments.
Grizzlies Don't Give Up Despite Defeat
Although the Grizzlies fought until the final minute, they were unable to complete the comeback. Ja Morant, in his return from a shoulder injury, was Memphis' leading scorer with 27 points. His presence on the court was important, but he could do little to slow down the Rockets in the decisive moments.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also had a remarkable effort, contributing 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks, but the team couldn't find a way to slow Houston down when they needed it most.
Desmond Bane, another key player for the Grizzlies, was also on hand with 16 points, but the efforts were not enough to overcome the Rockets. Memphis struggled especially in the first quarter, where Houston managed to dominate inside, scoring 20 points in the paint before the midway point of the first quarter.
Despite the Grizzlies' improvement late in the game, Houston maintained the lead thanks to its solid defense and ability to force turnovers.
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Houston Maintains Its Lead And Consolidates Its Position In The West
Although the Rockets did not have the best defensive performance in this game, allowing the Grizzlies to shoot 50% from the field and being outscored 62-48 in points in the paint, their ability to force 19 turnovers and turn them into 31 points was the difference.
Despite the free throw misses, with Houston scoring just 24 of 41, the 4-point difference at the end of the game reflects the defensive effort and control of the pace of play in the most important moments.
With this victory, the Rockets consolidated their position in second place in the Western Conference with a 25-12 record. Despite defensive stumbles and free throw shooting struggles, the victory allows them to continue to move up in the standings and maintain their confidence in the upcoming games.
Houston's next game will be against the Atlanta Hawks, where they will try to continue their winning streak and maintain their place at the top of the conference.
