Game Preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets
The Memphis Grizzlies, currently struggling with a four-game losing streak away from home, will face off against the Houston Rockets on Monday night at 8 p.m. EST in Houston. The Grizzlies hold an 18-25 record, placing them 11th in the Western Conference, while the Rockets, boasting a robust 27-16 record, sit in fourth place.
Betting Odds and Team Performance
In terms of betting odds from BetMGM, the Rockets are favored by 10.5 points, with an over/under set at 222.5. Houston has performed well in their conference games, achieving a record of 15 wins against 14 losses. They excel in scoring inside the paint, averaging 52.9 points per game, with Alperen Sengun being a significant contributor, scoring 13.7 points on average.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have shown some promise within their Southwest Division, posting a record of 5-4 against fellow divisional teams. They rank fifth in offensive rebounds in the Western Conference, pulling down 11.8 per game, largely thanks to Zach Edey, who leads the team with an average of 3.9 offensive rebounds.
Shooting Statistics
Assessing their three-point shooting, the Rockets connect on 11.4 three-pointers per game—3.0 less than the 14.4 three-pointers that Memphis allows. Conversely, Memphis averages 13.4 successful three-point attempts each game, slightly outpacing the Rockets’ defensive average of 12.4.
Previous Encounter
This will be the second clash between these two teams this season, with the Rockets claiming a 124-109 victory in their previous encounter on November 6, led in scoring by Amen Thompson, who netted 28 points.
Key Players to Watch
Star players to watch include Kevin Durant for Houston, who is averaging 26.3 points, along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Thompson has also been impressive recently with an average of 19.7 points and 8.8 rebounds over his last 10 games, shooting at a remarkable 51.4%.
For the Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. leads with 18.9 points per game, alongside 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Jock Landale is also notable, averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds while maintaining an impressive shooting percentage of 55.6% over his last ten games.
Recent Performance and Injury Updates
In their recent performances, the Rockets hold a 5-5 record in their last ten games, scoring an average of 108.8 points while allowing their opponents to score 110.2. On the other hand, Memphis has struggled with a 3-7 record in that same span, averaging a higher 114.4 points but allowing 116.9 points on average.
Injury updates indicate that the Rockets will be missing Fred VanVleet for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury, while Aaron Holiday is listed as day-to-day due to a back issue. The Grizzlies are dealing with an extensive injury list, including Ja Morant (elbow) and Zach Edey (ankle), among others.
This matchup anticipates a battle as both teams aim to improve their standings in this competitive Western Conference.
This report has been compiled using insights facilitated by Data Skrive and information sourced from Sportradar.
