Grizzlies lose 2nd straight
HOUSTON - Grizzlies coach David Fizdale stood with his arms folded and Houston guard Eric Gordon stood directly in front of him.
Gordon received a pass, and without hesitation, launched a 3-pointer that splashed through the nets.
Fizdale calmly pointed to the official and signaled for a timeout.
Gordon’s fourth-quarter basket was the Rockets’ 17th 3-pointer Saturday night, and there was little the Grizzlies Who: Memphis vs. Brooklyn Nets When, where: 7 p.m., Monday, FedExForum TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM could do to disrupt their opponent’s offensive rhythm.
Memphis’ 123-108 loss to Houston was their second straight in as many nights.
The Grizzlies spent hours trading twopoint baskets for 3s.
The Rockets hadn’t played since Wednesday, were hardly rusty and finished with 18 baskets from beyond the arc. They were undoubtedly the fresher team after halftime, too.
James Harden led all scorers with 33 points to go with 11 assists and seven boards. Gordon chipped in 18 points.
The Grizzlies mostly relied on Mike Conley’s 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds. JaMychal Green added a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Memphis led by three points four minutes into the game. Harden gave the Rockets a lead when he connected on a step-back 3-pointer midway through the opening period, and the Grizzlies trailed the rest of the way.
Houston sewed a cushion in the third period as Memphis began to appear weary on the second night of a back-to-back.
On one play, Conley lost his dribble and Rockets guard Patrick Beverley pounced. The two guards wrestled for the basketball. The Rockets came away with the ball, and the Griz turnover led to Harden throwing down an uncontested dunk to complete a fast break.
Memphis faced its first double-digit deficit – 72-62 – after that sequence midway through the third quarter.
The Grizzlies trailed 93-78 entering the fourth quarter after Harden buried a 3pointer as the horn sounded. Sharpshooting guard Troy Daniels, who hadn’t played all game, started the final frame for the Griz in attempt get instant offense.
Despite Harden’s 20-point third quarter and the Rockets’ feeding the Grizzlies a steady diet of 3-pointers, Fizdale watched his squad show more fight than what was displayed Friday in a loss at Dallas. Houston’s lead was 55-51 at halftime. Fizdale talked pregame about wanting to see his troops show more effort defensively and compete throughout the game. Fizdale spoke in the context of the Grizzlies possibly facing the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.
Memphis entered the game in sixth place. Houston has firmly held on to third seed in the Western Conference playoff standings. The teams would meet if the postseason began today.
However, Memphis remains just a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for fifth place and own a one game lead ahead of seventh-place Oklahoma City.
Although the Grizzlies again played without Brandan Wright (personal reasons), forward Chandler Parsons appeared in games on consecutive nights for the first time this season.
Parsons still plays on a minutes restriction and had been held out of backto-back games as part of his recovery from knee surgery.
Fizdale said Parsons’ 19 minutes against the Rockets showed progress.
Reach Tillery at Ronald.Tillery@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @CAGrizBeat