The Houston Roundball Review is an online basketball publication by: Kris Gardner, United States Basketball Writers Association member. Credentialed media member since 1997. USBWA approved online journalist. Voter of Katrina McClain, Naismith, USBWA, and Wooden awards.
Rockets shoot 26 percent in second half in 5 point loss to the Grizzlies
Posted: January 13, 2017 -- 11:03 pm CST.
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets got plenty of wide open shots and good looks in the second half Friday night; but, the ball simply did not go through the hoop in the Rockets' 110-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets have now lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
Thanks to 58.3% field goal shooting (21 for 36, 7 for 17 threes), the Rockets (31-11) led the Grizzlies (25-17) 64-51 at halftime; however, the basket shrunk in the second half. The Rockets made just 12 field goals (out of 46 attempts) in the second 24 minutes -- including an arctic 3 for 24 from three-point range.
Head coach Mike D'Antoni, "I thought we got good looks. Just one of those nights."
D'Antoni refuted the notion the Rockets are tired.
"Oh, nah, I don't think so," D'Antoni said. "We can look into that and say, 'Oh, yeah, our guys are a little tired.' Everybody's tired. Everybody's hurt; so, it's not really and excuse.
"We can't put our hat on that. If that's a problem, then we're going to have a serious problem the next two or three weeks because it gets worse."
The Rockets play 7 of 10 games on the road to finish the month of January.
Defensive stopper, Tony Allen, led the Grizzlies with 22 points. Allen made his first 8 field goals tonight and finished the game 9 for 10 from the floor.
The Rockets were outrebounded 45-31 tonight after being outrebounded 49-32 at Minnesota Wednesday night. In the 14 games without big man Clint Capela, Houston is being outrebounded 2.6 rebounds per game after outrebounding opponents by 4 boards per game the first 28 games of the season with Capela.
In the third quarter, Montrezl Harrell caught an alley-oop pass from James Harden for a slam dunk to give the Rockets a 70-55 lead with 9:01 remaining in the quarter. The Rockets did not make a field goal for more than three minutes until Harrell knocked down a jump shot at the 5:19 mark. During that drought, the Rockets were outscored by the Grizzlies 9 to 1.
Eric Gordon drained consecutive three-point shots to boost the Rockets' lead to 79-68 with 4:03 on the clock; however, Marc Gasol, former Rockets guard Troy Daniels, and Zach Randolph each sank a three-point spot during a 12-2 run which sliced the Rockets' lead to 81-80 at the 1:47 mark of the third period.
The Rockets led 85-83 after three quarters.
The Grizzlies scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter (7 from Zach Randolph) before Nene made a 5-foot jump shot to end the Rockets' drought.
Corey Brewer made a three-point shot to tie the game at 92; but, Randolph scored a layup to put the Grizzlies back on top. Tony Allen made two free throws for a 96-92 Grizzlies' lead; but, Harden made three free throws after he was fouled while attempting a three-point shot.
Ariza committed a turnover which led to fastbreak dunk by tony Allen. Mike Conley followed with a three-point shot.
The Rockets trailed 101-95 with 4:56 on the game clock. The Rockets did not get closer than 4 points the next two minutes.
Harden passed to a cutting to the hoop Nene for two points; then, after the Grizzlies turned the ball over two times, Patrick Beverley delivered a bounce pass to Nene as he rolled to the hoop and Nene scored to reduce the Rockets' deficit to just two points (105-103) with 90 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Conley dished to Marc Gasol for a 4 foot layup. Gasol set a pick for Conley and rolled to the hoop. Gasol beat Nene's defensive rotation for deep position for the short bucket.
Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson each missed three-point shots; then, with 26.1 seconds remaining in the game, Daniels swished a three to put the game away for the Grizzlies.
Daniels scored 13 points for the Grizzlies (3 for 6 from three).
James Harden finished the game with 27 points and 9 assists which ended his consecutive streak of double-doubles at 19.
"We didn't make shots. Trevor had a really good look. Ryan had a really good look. Simple," Harden said after the game. "We just missed shots that's all."
Pat Beverley added, "It's just all the shots we took we normally make; and, we just didn't tonight."
The Rockets hit the road for a two-game trip: Sunday at Brooklyn followed by Tuesday night at the Miami Heat.
