On January 14, 2025, Beijing time, the 25-12 Rockets hosted the 25-14 Grizzlies. The Rockets are currently ranked second in the West, while the Grizzlies are third. This is a crucial game for both teams. This is their third meeting of the season; the Rockets won the previous two encounters by 20 and 4 points respectively, including a 4-point victory just four days ago. Today, the Grizzlies are eager to bounce back, but the Rockets are in excellent form with a three-game winning streak. Can the Grizzlies defeat such a formidable opponent? The Grizzlies' starting lineup includes Morant, Bane, Wells, Jackson, and Idi. On the Rockets' side, Smith and Ison are absent, leaving the starting lineup as VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, and Shen Jing.
In the first quarter, Morant and Bane hit three-pointers, giving the Grizzlies a 6-0 lead. Amen responded with a three-pointer and Jalen Green scored a layup, reducing the gap to one point. Jackson, Morant, and Wells added points, while Shen Jing and Jalen Green kept the Rockets close, trailing by two points. After a timeout, Morant scored five consecutive points, extending the Grizzlies' lead to seven points. Dillon, Jalen Green, and Amen went on a 10-0 run to take a three-point lead. Aldama, Pippen, and Jackson countered with a 9-0 run to regain a six-point advantage. Adams made a shot, and Lavinia hit a three-pointer, ending the quarter with the Grizzlies leading 30-23.
In the second quarter, Whitmore hit a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to four points. Kennard and Pippen extended the lead to eight points. Holiday, Whitmore, and Shen Jing scored for the Rockets, but Kennard, Lavinia, Morant, and Aldama responded, maintaining a ten-point lead. Whitmore hit another three-pointer and a dunk, reducing the gap to five points. Lavinia hit a three-pointer, but Jalen Green and Dillon scored five points to bring the Rockets within three points. Morant, Clark, and Bane made free throws, while Jalen Green continued to score, allowing the Rockets to take a one-point lead. Wells and Morant regained the lead by five points, and at halftime, the Grizzlies led 60-57.
In the third quarter, Shen Jing scored with a hook shot, bringing the Rockets within one point. Wells and Jackson extended the Grizzlies' lead to five points. Shen Jing and Amen made three out of four free throws, but Jackson's 2+1 play kept the lead at five points. VanVleet and Amen tied the game, but Bane and Morant's scoring, including a three-pointer from Morant, extended the lead to twelve points. Whitmore hit two consecutive three-pointers, but Wells, Clark, and Bane responded, keeping the lead at thirteen points. Jalen Green, Shen Jing, and Holiday narrowed the gap to five points, and at the end of the third quarter, the Grizzlies led 92-87.
In the fourth quarter, Morant scored six consecutive points and Lavinia made a layup, giving the Grizzlies a thirteen-point lead. Dillon and Amen scored for the Rockets, but Morant's three-pointer maintained a twelve-point lead. Jalen Green, Amen, and VanVleet went on a scoring spree, giving the Rockets a two-point lead. Morant made a layup and Wells made free throws, putting the Grizzlies back in the lead by one point. Jalen Green, Shen Jing, and Amen regained a four-point lead, but Wells and Clark brought the Grizzlies back within one point with 51 seconds left. Jalen Green made a layup and Amen made two free throws, giving the Rockets a three-point lead with nine seconds remaining. Morant missed two free throws, and VanVleet made two, extending the lead to five points. Bane hit a three-pointer, but the game ended with the Rockets defeating the Grizzlies 120-118, completing a remarkable comeback from a thirteen-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Green scored 42 points with 13 out of 18 shots (5 out of 6 three-pointers), setting a new personal record for the season. He also contributed 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Amen achieved a career milestone with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, marking his first time reaching 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a game. Shen Jing had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. VanVleet added 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Whitmore contributed 16 points and 1 rebound.
Morant scored 29 points with 11 out of 24 shots, adding 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Bane had 25 points with 9 out of 13 shots, contributing 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Jackson scored 17 points with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Wells had 14 points, and Lavinia contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.
The Rockets have now defeated the Grizzlies three times this season, solidifying their second-place ranking in the West. They have consistently performed well against weaker opponents and have a high win rate against stronger teams, indicating that they are truly rising and have the potential to change the landscape of the Western Conference.