Grizzlies again falter late, surrendering a late lead. Sengun and Durant's scoring surge silences Memphis' promising start.
A same-day flight and a familiar finish summed up another frustrating night for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Playing their first game since a weather-related postponement and arriving in Houston hours before tipoff, the Grizzlies again controlled long stretches before watching the game slip away late. A decisive 16-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarters powered the Houston Rockets to a 108-99 win Monday night at Toyota Center.
Memphis led for much of the evening and carried a 54-51 advantage into halftime despite shooting under 40% from the field. Energy and effort plays kept the Grizzlies afloat early, particularly on the glass, where they generated second-chance opportunities that offset a cold perimeter night.
That pattern has become painfully familiar. Monday marked the seventh straight game in which Memphis built a double-digit lead, a stretch that has produced just two wins. When Houston tightened defensively and found rhythm offensively late in the third, the Grizzlies had few answers.
Houston’s surge began in the final minutes of the third quarter and carried into the fourth, flipping a tight contest into a double-digit Rockets lead. Memphis briefly threatened, but the margin never fully closed.
Alperen Sengun dominated the interior, exploiting mismatches created by Memphis’ limited frontcourt options. The Houston center finished with 33 points on an efficient 15-of-17 shooting night, repeatedly scoring through contact and sealing defenders deep in the paint.
On the perimeter, Kevin Durant matched Sengun with 33 points of his own, knocking down four 3-pointers and providing the shot-making Houston needed when the game tightened. The Rockets improved to 28-16 and moved to 2-0 against Memphis this season.
For the Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Santi Aldama returned from a two-game absence due to right knee soreness and matched Jackson with 17 points and seven boards. Their production kept Memphis competitive early, but the offense stalled when Houston’s run began.
Memphis played without center Jock Landale for personal reasons, thinning an already short rotation up front. The absence was felt as Sengun dictated the flow inside and Houston controlled key stretches around the rim.
The loss dropped Memphis to 18-26 and continued a difficult January defined by narrow margins and late-game breakdowns. Despite effort and early control, closing quarters remain a persistent obstacle.
The Grizzlies will look to regroup quickly. They return home Wednesday to host the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network.