Ja Morant, who currently ranks seventh in the NBA averaging 27.6 points per game, leads Memphis into a matchup with New Orleans on Tuesday (March 8), after the Grizzlies failed to match the resolve of the lowly Houston Rockets in a deflating loss (123-112) in Houston on Monday night.
Morant scored 22 points and had six assists for Memphis, coming off a home victory Saturday night over Orlando.
Desmond Bane continued his rebound from a subpar shooting stretch, garnering 28 points against the Rockets, losers of a dozen straight before the Grizzlies fizzled in the second half and could not knock Houston off the path to a much-needed win.
“They played great. We played terrible,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “They played great the entire the game. (Christian) Wood in the first half. (Kevin) Porter (Jr.), (Jalen) Green they brought it tonight. … We didn’t play well individually. We didn’t play well as a team. They kicked our butts.”
Porter scored 29 points, Wood added 28 points, 13 rebounds and Green contributed 24 points and eight rebounds in the Rockets’ first victory since beating Cleveland on Feb. 2.
“We gave them too much life in the game,” Jenkins said. “We could have been up 20 if you ask me. We didn’t come out with the urgency we needed to.
“That 10-point (halftime) lead wasn’t even a 10-point lead if you ask me. They came back with a storm, had it tied, but it felt like we played down the entire night. We didn’t have it tonight.”
Houston coach Stephen Silas summed up the Rockets’ performance this way:
“Grit, desperation a little bit, togetherness and just a collective will to win. … We were tired of losing, and it showed in our performance, not just at the end of the game. …
“We came out in the second half and played so good. Christian Wood, this was the best game I’ve seen him play.”
Porter scored 19 of his 22 second-half points in the third quarter to help Houston overcome the 10-point halftime deficit. Wood has scored at least 20 points in three games.
With Golden State (43-21) reeling (losers of four in a row), the Grizzlies (44-22) squandered a chance to sail past the Warriors into second place in the Western Conference.
Memphis Center Steven Adams put up a monster effort trying to power the Grizzlies beyond their lackluster performance. Adams had season-high 23 points and finished with 12 rebounds.
The Rockets shot 52 percent and made 13 of 35 on 3-pointers. The Grizzlies were 5 of 26 on 3-pointers.
Houston outrebounded the Grizzlies 45-40 and had a 22-13 advantage in second-chance points. Memphis leads the NBA with 49.2 rebounds per game led by Adams averaging 9.8.
The sting of the loss, notwithstanding, it’s just one loss for the Grizzlies, who have arrived ahead of schedule at the top echelon of Western Conference teams.
So, on to the Southwest Division matchup against the Pelicans. The division-leading Grizzlies are 7-5 against Southwest opponents. The Pelicans are 4-7 against the rest of the division.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Grizzlies won the last matchup 121-109 on Feb. 16. Tyus Jones scored 27 points to help lead the Grizzlies to the victory.
In addition to averaging 27.6 points, Morant goes into the game averaging 5.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Grizzlies. Bane is averaging 19.1 points over the past 10 games for Memphis.
For Morant and the Grizzlies, key among challenges down the stretch of the 82-game regular season is maintaining competitiveness against lower-tier teams. Memphis’ All-Star guard was asked about that after the Orlando (16-49) game, which the Grizzlies won 124-96 in front of a sellout crowd (17,794) at FedExForum on Saturday night (March 5).
“It’s not easy. Those teams are still … NBA team(s) with NBA players,” said Morant.
“Still have to be locked in like we are playing the best team in the league and still have to come out with energy. Focus on the task at hand and going on the road and getting the win.”
Ok, so that’s the formula for the Grizzlies, with execution the key.
GALLERY — Memphis gets it done against the Magic
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- Brandon Clarke powers in for two for the Grizzlies. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- Brandon Clarke scores in the paint over on Ignas Brazdelkis of the Orlando Magic. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- Desmond Bane fires and hits. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- The Magic’s Cole Anthony could not stop Desmond Bane on this shot. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- Ja Morant and Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins) greet Desmond Bane after his scoring spree. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- Ja Morant delivers one of his signature in-the-paint scoring moves. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
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- Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies blocks the shot of Ignas Brazdelkis of Orlando. (Photo: Warren Roseborough/The New Tri-State Defender)
(This story reflects reports by the Associated Press and TSD Grizzlies columnist Terry Davis.)
