Insider Insights: Grizzlies fall to 6-17 after failed comeback against the Rockets.

Just two more games, right?

Memphis traveled to Houston for the first game of a home-and-home series against the Rockets on Wednesday. Entering Wednesday’s matchup, Houston had a strong 10-1 record at home, while Memphis had a 5-6 record on the road. 10 of Houston’s 11 wins have come at home, and five of the six Memphis wins have come on the road. Both teams were playing in situations they were comfortable with which led to a competitive game.

This is the second matchup of the year between these teams as the first one resulted in a 111-91 loss for the Grizzlies. In that initial matchup, Houston overwhelmed Memphis with a barrage of scoring, with all five starters scoring in double figures and in particular Jalen Green going for 34 points on the night.

Grizzlies’ duo of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 a piece that night, but unfortunately one of those guys would not be in the lineup tonight.

Bane was out due to an undisclosed illness which left Jackson Jr. to take the lead role that night. With Bane out of the lineup, Vince Williams Jr. started in his place.

In the first half, it was all Houston. Houston got out to a quick 17-9 lead with a few buckets by Jabari Smith and former Grizzly Dillon Brooks. This led to a quick timeout by Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins at the 7:11 mark.

Jenkins was not happy with the defensive energy and intensity of the team. After giving up a few open threes and a few buckets from Derrick Rose and Jackson Jr. the first quarter ended with a 29-23 lead for Houston.  In the second quarter, Houston outscored Memphis 28-20.  Jackson Jr. tried to keep the team afloat, but the Houston bench came to play.

bink bink. pic.twitter.com/QeFxMZ8QKJ

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 14, 2023

With two big Reggie Bullock threes and three straight buckets from Jae’Sean Tate,  the lead grew to 19 at one point. Memphis cut the lead to 14 to finish the half down 57-43. At the half, the leading scorers for Memphis were Jackson Jr. and Rose with 15 and 8 points respectively while Smith and Tari Eason led Houston with 13 and 8.

This second-quarter slump is unfortunately customary for Memphis. This season Memphis is outscored at an average of 4.3 points per game in the second quarter. This is ranked last in the NBA. At this point, Memphis was getting outrebounded by 9 and shooting a measly 24% from the three-point line.

Memphis came out in the second half with a newfound energy.  Their defensive rotation was cleaner and they used their size in the inside to their advantage. JJJ was determined to do everything he could to keep his team in this game.

He took over this quarter with 16 points as Rose and Vince Willams went along with him as they began to slowly cut into the lead. They led the comeback to cut the lead to 1. Memphis outscored Houston 38-25 in the 3rd.

deep in that bag like grandma peppermint

go crazy @jarenjacksonjr pic.twitter.com/GxygytLhMQ

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 14, 2023

Unfortunately, in the last quarter, the comeback effort faded away. Every Grizzly except JJJ went cold from the field. At the same time, the Rockets caught fire in the 4th.

Houston shot 63.2 percent from the field as Fred Vanfleet scored 10 of his 16 in this quarter. Eason, Smith, and Jeff Green hit timely shots to put this game away in their favor. Eason had a career night with 25 points and 14 rebounds. JJJ scored 13 in this quarter, but the Rockets were too much which ended in the 117-104 loss for the Beale Street Bears.

The biggest difference in this game was the discrepancy in the rebound battle and bench points. Houston won the battle of the boards 58-38 and the bench outplayed Memphis 58-19. This is a recipe for disaster for Memphis as they are 0-15 in the games they are outrebounded.

Unfortunately, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 44-point career-high was not enough to get the win. Rose added in with a season-high 19 as well, but the supporting cast couldn’t match their energy. The absence of Bane hurt a lot as outside of Jackson Jr., the offense had little to no flow about it.

Now for the takeaways:

Triple J has been unlocked.

With last night’s performance, Jaren Jackson Jr. joined Ja Morant as the only Grizzlies in franchise history with back-to-back 40-point games. Trip did everything tonight outside of his 44. He pulled down 7 rebounds with 4 steals and a block.

Since his underwhelming 4-point game against Dallas on December 1st, JJJ has been unstoppable. He is averaging 33.4 points per game and he seems to be playing with a newfound aggression and confidence.

There aren’t many 7-foot guys in the league that can do what Jackson Jr. can do. His combination of size, skill, and defensive ability is unmatched by most big men in the league and it looks like JJJ is realizing it. These are the type of performances he is capable of if he is dialed in from the tip and stays out of foul trouble.

.@jarenjacksonjr hits a career high of 44 points and is the 2nd player in franchise history to have back-to-back games with 40+.

He is tonight's @intlpaperco player of the game. pic.twitter.com/9Jr9DWiWVC

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 14, 2023

You hate to see this type of performance in a loss, but there is a bright side. Bane and Jackson Jr. are playing the best basketball of their life right now. Morant’s suspension has undoubtedly hurt the team, but his absence has made Bane and Jackson have greater roles on this team, which they have flourished in. If Bane and Jackson can continue their high level of play they will form one of the best big 3s in the league when Morant returns.

That could be the light at the end of the tunnel for this team and Grizzlies fans.

Optimistic/Pessimistic

Optimistic: Jackson and Bane are playing like all-stars and Rose continues to be a steady hand for this team.

Pessimistic: The 6-17 hole may be too much to overcome when Morant comes back and the team gets healthy.