Grizzlies lose to Rockets in first encounter with Dillon Brooks since he left Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies kept it close for three quarters, but they couldn’t overcome a 34-point performance from Jalen Green and fell to the Houston Rockets 111-91 on Wednesday night in Houston.
It was the first time Memphis and former Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks have been on the same court since Brooks was sent to the Rockets in a sign-and-trade in July. Brooks finished with 13 points, five rebounds, four fouls and a staredown.
It was a defensive struggle for the first three quarters. The Grizzlies hung in even as Desmond Bane struggled with foul trouble, and he played only 18 minutes in the first three quarters. But a barrage from Green and the Rockets (7-6) at the beginning of the fourth helped them open up a double-digit lead and pull away for the win.
Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored 23 points, but no other Grizzlies starter scored more than eight.
The road loss meant the Grizzlies (3-11) are again on a losing streak after they lost to the Boston Celtics on Sunday night in Memphis. The Grizzlies are back at FedExForum for a two-game homestand against the Phoenix Suns (Friday) and Minnesota Timberwolves (Sunday).
Memphis Grizzlies score updates vs. Houston Rockets
Fourth quarter
4:15 left: The game is over now. Green is up to 34 points, and all five Rockets starters are in double figures. It was still close after three quarters, but the Rockets came out at the beginning of the fourth quarter and took firm control of the game.
5:53 left: The Rockets have opened up a 19-point lead and the Grizzlies have scored only eight points in the quarter.
9:48 left: Green has completely taken over the game, and the Grizzlies have no answers. He's up to 28 points and just hit three shots in a row to extend the lead to 14 points. The Rockets have been on a sustained run, and the Grizzlies are starting to run out of time to turn it around.
11:32 left: Fred VanVleet hits a three-pointer after a turnover and Jenkins calls timeout immediately.
Third quarter
End of quarter: Rockets 74, Grizzlies 68. The Grizzlies really struggled to score without Bane on the court. Green threw down a massive dunk on top of Jackson at the end of the quarter, but then Alperen Şengün picked up a technical foul coming off the bench to celebrate. This game is still there for the taking on both sides, but the Grizzlies really need Bane to be available for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
Green now has a game-high 21 points, while both Jackson and Bane have 19.
2:43 left: It's back to a defensive struggle. Bane picked up his fourth foul on an offensive foul and went back to the bench. He's got 19 points in just 18 minutes. But other Grizzlies players are going to have to carry the scoring load while he's on the bench, and it can't just be Jackson.
8:08 left: The offenses woke up to start the second half. Memphis opened up a lead, but Houston quickly got it back to a one-point game thanks to Jalen Green, who now has 14 points on the night.
Second quarter
Halftime: Grizzlies, 46, Rockets 45. It was a sloppy half on both sides, and offense was at a premium. Bane has played only 11 minutes because of foul trouble, but Jaren Jackson Jr. has 15 points to lead all scorers. Jabari Smith Jr. is the only Rocket in double figures with 12. The Grizzlies now have a 21-9 free throw advantage and have repeatedly attacked the rim.
2:39 left: Bane picked up his third foul with 5:52 to go and went back to the bench, so he hasn't been much of a factor as he battles foul trouble after the quick start. It's been a physical game on both ends, with battles for rebounds on almost every possession.
8:58 left: The Rockets have stormed back in the second quarter and have taken a 31-30 lead. Taylor Jenkins calls timeout after a three-point barrage from the Rockets cost the Grizzlies their first quarter lead.
First quarter
End of quarter: Grizzlies 28, Rockets 21. Memphis opened up a double-digit advantage, but the Rockets fought back at the end of the quarter. The Rockets have really struggled with fouling and there's a significant free-throw shooting disparity already. The Grizzlies have are 11-13 from the line, while the Rockets are only 3-3. Brooks and Aaron Holiday are the only Rockets with two fouls, though.
3:37 left: Brooks also has two fouls and is on the bench. The Grizzlies have a 20-13 lead thanks to the quick start from Bane and some solid defense. The Rockets are shooting just 35 percent from the floor.
5:02 left: Bane, who leads all scorers with nine points, picks up his second foul and has to go to the bench.
8:42 left: Desmond Bane got off to a quick start, already scoring from all three levels and causing problems for the Rockets defense. He went right at Brooks to score at the rim and cause an early timeout from Rockets coach Ime Udoka. Bane is 4-4 with nine points just over three minutes into the game.
Grizzlies looking for road win
This game has been circled on the calendar all season, at least for a certain player.
The Memphis Grizzlies will meet the Houston Rockets on Wednesday (7 p.m., Bally Sports South) at Toyota Center. It's the first time Rockets forward Dillon Brooks will face off against his old team after spending the first six years of his career in Memphis.
The Grizzlies have struggled this season, and Brooks told the Houston Chronicle this week he has a theory about why that has happened.
"You can see they have no swagger," he said.
The Rockets, who are eighth in the Western Conference, have a few new players in the rotation, including Fred VanVleet.
The Grizzlies are 13th, having dealt with a seemingly unending injury crisis since the start of the season, on top of the 25-game suspension of star guard Ja Morant.
What channel is Grizzlies vs. Rockets on today?
TV channel: Bally Sports Southeast
Stream: Bally Sports app, FUBO (free trial)
Grizzlies vs. Rockets start time
Date: Nov. 22
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Grizzlies vs. Rockets betting odds
SPREAD: Rockets -5
MONEY LINE: Rockets -198, Grizzlies +164
OVER/UNDER: 212.5
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Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies lose to Rockets in 1st encounter with Dillon Brooks
