On January 14, 2025, the NBA regular season continued with the Houston Rockets hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. The two teams were closely ranked, with the Rockets at 25 wins and 12 losses, ranking second in the West, while the Grizzlies were third in the West with 25 wins and 14 losses. This game was not only a battle for position but also a focal matchup. Ultimately, the Rockets narrowly defeated the Grizzlies 120-118 after four quarters of intense competition, further solidifying their second place in the West.
Game Review
The game started with the Grizzlies taking the lead first, with Morant and Bane's offense helping them gain an advantage. Although the Rockets gradually responded through the offensive efforts of Jalen Green and Amen, the Grizzlies still led 30-23 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, both teams had low shooting percentages, and the Grizzlies once expanded their lead, but the Rockets gradually narrowed the gap through the outstanding performances of Whitmore and Jalen Green, trailing 57-60 at halftime.
In the third quarter, both sides engaged in a back-and-forth defensive battle, with the Grizzlies maintaining a slight lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Rockets trailed 87-92. Entering the fourth quarter, the Rockets gradually turned the tide, with Jalen Green's personal outburst and Amen's strong performance in the paint helping the Rockets overtake the score in the final moments. Eventually, the Rockets won a narrow victory over the Grizzlies 120-118, thanks to Jalen Green's two successful free throws.
Houston Rockets Player Ratings:
- Jalen Green (Perfect Score) Jalen Green's performance was undoubtedly the best of the game, especially on the offensive end where he showed extremely high efficiency. He scored 22 points in the first half and finished with 42 points, almost single-handedly leading the team to victory. Jalen's every offensive move on the court posed a threat, with accurate shooting and the ability to stabilize the team in key moments, making him the hero of this game.
- Amen (Perfect Score) Amen not only excelled offensively with 19 points and 13 rebounds but also played a crucial role defensively. Despite his low shooting percentage, he maintained the fluidity of the team's offense through active running and passing, becoming one of the key players in the Rockets' victory.
- Whitmore (Perfect Score) As a substitute player, Whitmore's performance was commendable, scoring 16 points throughout the game. Especially from beyond the arc, Whitmore's three-point shooting accuracy was very high, providing timely offensive support for the Rockets. His performance was undoubtedly a highlight on the Rockets' bench.
- Shenjing (Passing Score) Shenjing's performance on both ends of the court was passable. Although his offensive efficiency was not outstanding, he contributed significantly in defense and rebounding. He scored 17 points in total, and although his performance was average, he still made contributions to the team.
- Adams (Passing Score) Adams performed steadily, scoring only 2 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, but his positive attitude and silent dedication on the court ensured the stability of the Rockets in the paint. As a substitute, his scoring was not high, but he did well in defense and rebounding.
- Holiday (Passing Score) Holiday's offensive performance improved, contributing 6 points. Although his scoring was not much, his defense and passing on the court also played an important role. Overall, Holiday's performance can be considered passing.
- VanVleet (Dull Performance) VanVleet's performance was dull, especially in the first half when he had no field goal scores, affecting the team's ball control efficiency. Although he contributed 9 points and 5 assists, he clearly did not meet the expected performance of the starting point guard.
- Dillon (Dull Performance) Dillon's performance was also poor, despite his contributions on the defensive end, his offensive efficiency was low, scoring only 9 points in total. Overall, his offensive play failed to effectively widen the gap for the team.
- Tate (Dull Performance) As a substitute, Tate's performance on the court had no highlights, failing to score throughout the game. Although he did some work on the defensive end, his overall performance was very dull, failing to provide enough support for the team.
Summary
Although the Rockets went through a tough game, they ultimately won a small victory over the Grizzlies thanks to the outstanding performances of Jalen Green and Amen. Although the main players such as VanVleet and Dillon performed poorly, the Rockets' overall strength remained strong, especially the decisive role played by the substitute players. With the Rockets continuing to maintain stable performances, they are expected to compete for higher rankings in the West. While the Grizzlies performed well, their mistakes in key moments also cost them the opportunity for victory, and they need to be more cautious and calm in upcoming games.
