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HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets continued their impressive home form with a 117-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, marking their 11th consecutive home win. Tari Eason was the standout performer, scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds off the bench.
Eason’s remarkable performance was complemented by Jabari Smith Jr., who added a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Eason emphasized his commitment to playing hard, attributing his success to this approach rather than any extraordinary individual effort.
The Rockets’ bench played a crucial role, outscoring the Grizzlies’ reserves 58-19. Houston coach Ime Udoka praised the energy and change of pace provided by the bench, acknowledging its importance in maintaining the team’s momentum.
Houston’s scoring was balanced, with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks each contributing 11 points, and Jae’Sean Tate adding 10 points along with seven rebounds. The Rockets shot 45% from the field, including 12 of 32 from the 3-point range, and dominated the rebounding battle 58-39.
This home winning streak is the longest for the Rockets since their franchise-record 20-game streak in 2018.
For Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. was the standout player, scoring a career-high 44 points and adding seven rebounds. His performance was particularly strong in the second half, where he scored 29 points. Jackson Jr. focused on maintaining balance and simplicity in his game, even when faced with double teams.
Derrick Rose contributed 19 points and six assists, while Vince Williams Jr. added 10 points and seven rebounds. Despite Jackson’s effort, the Grizzlies struggled from long distance, shooting just 10 of 38 and have now lost three consecutive games. The absence of leading scorer Desmond Bane due to illness was a significant setback for Memphis.
The Rockets established a commanding lead in the second quarter but saw it reduced to 57-43 at halftime. The Grizzlies then mounted a comeback early in the second half, cutting the lead to just two points. However, Houston responded in the fourth quarter with a decisive 10-2 run, led by VanVleet, and maintained control for the remainder of the game.
This victory sets the stage for a rematch on Friday night in Memphis, with the Rockets looking to continue their winning ways and the Grizzlies aiming to snap their losing streak.
