Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets Game Preview

Ja Morant and the Grizzlies will be hoping to secure a more comfortable win against the Rockets on Friday night.

WHO: (Memphis Grizzlies 45-27, 31-5 home) vs Houston Rockets (18-55, 6-29 away)

WHEN: 7:00 PM CT

WHERE: FedEx Forum – Memphis TN

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN: Bally Sports Southeast/92.9 FM ESPN Memphis

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS: 

INJURY REPORT:

Memphis: Steven Adams (Out, knee), Brandon Clarke (Out, Achilles), Jake LaRavia (Out, G League Assignment), Vince Williams Jr. (Out, shoulder), Ziaire Williams (Out, foot) 

Houston: Jae’Sean Tate (Out, knee)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS:

MEMPHIS: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman

HOUSTON: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Kenyon Martin Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

The Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Houston Rockets in the FedEx Forum for the second time in a row on Friday night and are looking to win their fifth straight game and the eighth of their last nine. The Grizzlies have plenty to feel good about at the moment, especially after the absences and disruptions they’ve had to deal with in the past several weeks. Ja Morant made his return against the Rockets on Wednesday after missing nine straight games and played up to his usual standard in limited minutes. On top of extending their current winning streak, the Grizzlies also clinched their second straight Southwest Division championship with the Wednesday victory over the Rockets.

While the Grizzlies eventually got the best of Houston, 130-125, the Rockets had the lead with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies will be looking to secure a more comfortable win as they try to sweep the season series against the team with the worst record in the Western Conference. As Memphis looks to secure its spot near the top of the West and Houston aims to maximize its chances of being able to draft Victor Wembanyama, there is no reason the Grizzlies shouldn’t finish Friday with a win; but, as ever, they must be careful not to underestimate their opponents. Here are some keys to help the Grizzlies avoid ending up on the wrong end of an upset:

Energy on defense and on the boards

Win or not, giving up 125 points to the Houston Rockets is not ideal for a team that has had one of the best defenses in the NBA for a long stretch of the season. The Rockets currently have the fourth-worst offensive rating and the third-worst true shooting percentage in the league, but against the Grizzlies on Wednesday they shot over 50% from the field and had 58 points in the paint. There were stretches, including in the fourth quarter, where Memphis seemed unable to put together a solid defensive possession. Because of this, the Grizzlies were never able to build a considerable lead or go on a significant run, even as the offense ran smoothly for the vast majority of the game.

As Memphis looks to tighten up on the defensive end, two areas stand out as especially needing attention: transition defense and rebounding. Houston won the rebound battle on Wednesday night 48-36 and grabbed eight more offensive boards than Memphis; they also had more fast break points and points off of turnovers, areas that often form a key to success for the Grizzlies. Taylor Jenkins was visibly frustrated on multiple plays after the Rockets got second-chance baskets or faced little defensive intensity on fast-break opportunities. If the Grizzlies can prevent Houston from winning the rebound battle and maintain their defensive organization, they have a good shot at stifling the Rocket’s offensive production and allowing themselves to build more sustainable leads.

Maximize the value of Ja Morant and Tyus Jones

It’s been said many times, but Tyus Jones has performed extremely well in the absence of Ja Morant, proving time and time again that he has the ability to be a quality starting point guard in the NBA. Jones is averaging over 17 points and almost eight assists in 19 games as a starter this season and has helped Memphis win seven of their last eight without Morant. Because of this recent success, as well as to help Morant transition back more gradually, Jones started the game against Houston on Wednesday. Morant was the point guard that finished the game, though, helping the Grizzlies pull away in the final minutes with several important plays, including taking a pivotal charge in the final two minutes.

It’s unclear what the Grizzlies’ exact plan for the point guard position will be for the next few games, considering that Taylor Jenkins said it’s possible he’ll start on the bench for a few games, and that Ja has said that he feels comfortable in that position. But it is certain that, sooner or later, Ja Morant will return to his role as the Grizzlies’ starting point guard. The question becomes, then, how can the team continue to get the best out of Tyus Jones as he returns to a bench role? In comparison to his starter games, Jones is averaging just 8 points per game on significantly worse shooting off the bench this season. Both the last game and the upcoming game against the Rockets provide the Grizzlies a valuable opportunity to test rotations, lineups, and strategies that will maximize the potential of the Grizzlies’ stellar point-guard pair. Tyus Jones is more than just a safety policy for when Morant is absent — rather, he should be an elevating factor for the Grizzlies’ depth and championship aspirations.

Prediction

The Memphis Grizzlies can and should beat the Houston Rockets in this game, and they probably feel like Wednesday’s result was too close for comfort. They were reminded that, no matter how committed a team is to the tank, NBA players want to win and will take advantage of any lapse in concentration or effort. With 10 games left in the regular season and the battle for the top seeds very much alive, it is far too significant a moment for Memphis to slip. Houston has several extremely talented and promising young players, but expect the Grizzlies to put on a show for the home fans at the FedEx Forum on Friday night.

Memphis 122, Houston Rockets 103