National Basketball Association
Memphis 121, Houston 113
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Officials: #15 Zach Zarba, #70 Phenizee Ransom, #89 Dannica Mosher
Attendance: 15012

Jaren Jackson Jr. drilled three fourth-quarter 3-pointers and rookie GG Jackson scored 20 points off the bench as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a nine-game skid with a 121-113 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Rockets, who suffered their sixth consecutive road loss, erased a 23-point, first-half deficit and took their first lead at 88-87 when rookie Amen Thompson made a free throw with 10:07 left to play.

But Jaren Jackson, who finished with 18 points, answered with a 3-pointer and added another trey at the 7:37 mark to snap a 92-92 deadlock. His final 3 of the fourth capped a 9-0 burst and helped Memphis reclaim its double-digit lead at 107-97.

The short-handed Grizzlies received contributions from several role players. Luke Kennard made four 3-pointers and tallied 19 points, while Lamar Stevens and Jordan Goodwin -- both recent acquisitions for Memphis -- combined for 24 points off the bench.

Thompson posted his fifth double-double of the season by pairing 19 points with 12 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun added 19 points and six assists. Both Thompson and Sengun fouled out in the fourth quarter for the Rockets, who missed 24 of 34 3-pointers. Aaron Holiday, who scored 19 points off the bench, went 5 of 8 from deep.

The Grizzlies were ablaze early, particularly Kennard, who started 3-for-3 from behind the arc.

Memphis surged to a 15-7 lead, and the Grizzlies' first 10 shot attempts were 3-pointers. Jaren Jackson banked in a 13-footer at the 5:23 mark of the first quarter to give the Grizzlies their first field goal inside the arc before GG Jackson took the baton from Kennard.

GG Jackson scored 10 points in the first quarter as Memphis took a 36-21 lead into the second. The Grizzlies extended that margin, pushing it to 18 when Ziaire Williams dunked through a foul and converted the subsequent free throw with 11:14 left in the first half. After Derrick Rose followed a GG Jackson triple with a layup, Memphis led 46-23.

The Rockets suddenly came to life, soon reeling off a 21-4 run that included consecutive transition dunks from Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., plus a second-chance dunk from Sengun that cut the deficit to 54-49. Nate Hinton sparked the rally off the Houston bench, and Memphis held on just long enough to take a 58-49 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Houston   Memphis
Dillon Brooks 19 Scoring GG Jackson 20
Alperen Sengun 6 Assists Vince Williams Jr. 7
Amen Thompson 12 Rebounds GG Jackson 9
Dillon Brooks 7 Free Throws Made Vince Williams Jr. 10
Dillon Brooks 2 Steals Vince Williams Jr. 3
Jalen Green 1 Blocks GG Jackson 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Houston 113 41.2 11-36 18-28 20 56 4 9 9
Memphis 121 49.4 15-35 28-41 27 46 11 8 11
Upcoming Games
  • Memphis will play their next game at home against Milwaukee. The Grizzlies have a W/L % of .444 after a win and .297 after a loss.
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against New Orleans. The Rockets have a W/L % of .480 after a win and .414 after a loss.