In their final game before the NBA’s 2024 All-Star break, the Rockets (24-30) continued their road misery with Wednesday’s 121-113 loss (box score) to the Grizzlies (19-36). Houston is 5-21 away from home this season, with the latest humiliation coming versus a lowly Memphis squad that had lost nine straight games going in.
Houston enters the break 12th in the Western Conference standings, 3 games behind Golden State in 10th, what would be the final berth of the 2024 play-in tournament.
Both teams were short-handed on Wednesday, with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Brandon Clarke among the rotation players absent for Memphis. Those unavailable for the Rockets included Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore.
Starting for VanVleet, rookie guard Amen Thompson was a bright spot for the Rockets, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 9-of-17 from the field (52.9%). But backcourt mate Jalen Green was a disaster, finishing with just 4 points and 3 assists in 23 minutes while shooting 2-of-7 overall (28.6%), 0-of-4 from 3-point range, and not earning a single fourth-quarter minute.
Granted, Green was far from alone in his shooting struggles. Starting forwards Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. combined to shoot just 8-of-30 overall (26.7%) and 2-of-16 on 3-pointers (12.5%).
Alperen Sengun tallied 19 points (50% FG), 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Aaron Holiday added 19 points off the bench while making 5-of-8 from 3-point range (62.5%). Houston connected on 11-of-36 from beyond the 3-point arc as a team (30.6%), and without Holiday, that dipped to a woeful 6-of-28 from distance (21.4%).
Memphis raced to a 23-point lead midway through the first half before a furious Houston rally in the middle portions of the game gave the Rockets a two-point lead early in the fourth. But Houston couldn’t sustain that momentum, and in a familiar theme from recent weeks, the frantic rally wasn’t enough to get over the final hump.
Rookie forward GG Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points and 9 rebounds in only 24 minutes off the bench, making 8-of-15 shots (53.3%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60%). Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points in 27 minutes on 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range (50%), including a pair of big triples in the fourth to stem the tide.
Here’s our look at Wednesday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. After the All-Star break, the Rockets return to action on Feb. 22 in New Orleans. Tipoff versus the Pelicans is at 7 p.m. Central.
Feb. 14 Rockets-Grizzlies reaction
Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green from 3-point range tonight:
1-of-18 (5.6%)
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 15, 2024
Rockets lose 121-113. Amen Thompson was magnificent and Alperen Sengun had a strong 2nd half, but Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Dillon Brooks were hideous.
A very bad loss against a very bad team. Into All Star Break we go, hopefully everybody gets healthy.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 15, 2024
Feels like basically every game is rock bottom
It also seems that Jalen has let go of the rope, can’t imagine he’ll be a Rocket for very long past next offseason
And if he is traded this offseason, I fear we may be shocked at how low the return could be…
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) February 15, 2024
Such a terrible, terrible loss for the #Rockets as they head into the ASB.
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) February 15, 2024
Green hasn't played since midway through the 3rd quarter. Udoka going with Nate Hinton and Aaron Holiday in the backcourt to close this one. https://t.co/MxiPmtuH9E
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 15, 2024
The future 🚀
It's going to be okay. pic.twitter.com/em5xIN3WFT
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 15, 2024
Amen Thompson gets the board and goes coast-to-coast for the slam.
He is a FORCE when he gets downhill. pic.twitter.com/mxCAR4iWtV
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 15, 2024
MEM 121- 113 HOU. Another rough road loss.
By mid-December, the Rockets were 13-9. Since then, they’ve gone 11-20 and sit at 24-30 heading into the ASB. Three games out of the final Play-In spot in the West.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 15, 2024
Houston #Rockets next 6 games post All-Star break:
Rockets at Pelicans
Thunder at Rockets
Rockets at Suns
Suns at Rockets
Rockets at Thunder
Rockets at SunsWe’re going to know if we’re making the play-in tournament by the end of this stretch.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 15, 2024
The #Rockets are now 1-6 without Fred VanVleet.
Jalen Green with another disappearing act as Ime Udoka benches him yet again due to him being a complete non-factor.
Amen Thompson continues to impress.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 15, 2024
Every Rocket needs to tell Nate Hinton thank you because the Rockets would be down 25 without him. He is like the Memphis players who is playing like their jobs depend on it pic.twitter.com/nGhaIog52Z
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 15, 2024
The #Rockets are now 5-21 on the road….
I’ll say it time and time again, inexcusable.
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) February 15, 2024
Dillon Brooks has not been playing elite defense for a while now. With this offense, he does not deserve to play 30+ minutes.
The Rockets should shop him this off-season before teams catch up on his apparent defensive regression.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 15, 2024
We miss Cam Whitmore. We could count on him for at least two three-pointers and the fact that we can't buy a three-pointer is ridiculous right now #Rockets
— Maya ♥️s 🚀🏀 (@RowdyMaya) February 15, 2024
The Rockets got really lucky that Cam Whitmore fell all the way to 20 and looks like the instant offense Jalen was supposed to be. Need him back.
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) February 15, 2024
Jabari Smith Jr. is going to hit the All-Star break shooting about 30% on 3s over his last 14 games
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 15, 2024
This tells you all you need to know about this game. Luke Kennard has more points than Jalen Green and Jabari Smith combined. Your not winning games like that especially with multiple injuries
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 15, 2024
Jaren Jackson Jr., who was quiet for the first 3 quarters, has 11 points in the 4th. Memphis pulling away here up 107-97 with 3:41 left in this one.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 15, 2024
This kid just gets it. 19 points, 12 rebounds for the No. 4 pick tonight. https://t.co/y0knxSVDFw
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 15, 2024
Sengun's consistency on defense is maddening. Tonight terrible, the other night great. Couldn't get stops when they needed them.
— JLS IV (@Slotter) February 15, 2024
How many 20-20 games is Amen going to have? What a stud.
— JLS IV (@Slotter) February 15, 2024
Amen Thompson currently has his 5th career double-double.
I genuinely think he has been the #Rockets best/most consistent player since stepping in for Fred VanVleet. pic.twitter.com/njYk1MEyVf
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 15, 2024
That Amen Thompson/Alperen Şengün game is slowly becoming one of the best forms of offense for the Houston #Rockets.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 15, 2024
#Rockets are 11-21 (.344) since that Dec. 15 win in Memphis, which was their high-water mark at 13-9.
Over 32 games, that makes for a full-season win pace of 28-54.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 15, 2024
Why shouldn’t the starting backcourt for a healthy Houston Rockets team be Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson?
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) February 15, 2024
Quite the possession from Amen Thompson
Picks up the long offensive rebound then completely controls the possession in the best way #Rockets pic.twitter.com/JezpohA7Iw
— Rich (@MavsDraft) February 15, 2024
Udoka to @Jonathan_Feigen on Houston’s lack of energy:
“It’s definitely a concerning problem. Maybe I have to look at the rotation and the lineup I have out there starting, and try to get five competitors out there at one time to avoid poor starts like that. I will look at all…
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 15, 2024
