Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun each scored 33 points as the Houston Rockets pulled away late to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 108-99 on Monday night at Toyota Center. The victory marked Houston’s fifth win in six games and kept it near the top of the Western Conference standings.
The game was tight entering the fourth quarter, with Memphis holding a 77-76 lead after three periods. Houston responded with a decisive 21-9 run over the first seven minutes of the final quarter to take control.
Durant delivered a steady scoring performance while spacing the floor and attacking mismatches. He finished 11-for-24 from the field, hit four three-pointers, and added eight rebounds in 37 minutes.
Sengun dominated inside and posted one of his most efficient outings of the season. The center went 15-for-17 from the floor, was perfect in the first half, and added nine rebounds and six assists.
Tari Eason provided a spark on both ends, scoring 17 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Amen Thompson orchestrated the offense with 14 assists, helping Houston record 29 team assists on 41 made shots.
The Rockets shot 45 percent overall and outrebounded Memphis 57-52, turning second-chance opportunities into separation in the fourth quarter. Houston also held the Grizzlies to 19 percent shooting from three-point range.
Memphis led 54-51 at halftime despite shooting just 37 percent from the field in the first half. Houston struggled early as well, making only 20 of 51 shots before the break.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama scored 17 points apiece for the Grizzlies. GG Jackson added 14 points, Jaylen Wells finished with 12, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 11.
Cam Spencer contributed 14 assists and five points while helping stabilize the offense, but Memphis struggled to find consistent scoring late. The Grizzlies have now lost three straight and 10 of their past 13 games.
The visitors played without Ja Morant, who remains sidelined with a sprained ligament in his left elbow. Morant suffered the injury last Wednesday and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
Memphis had not played since Friday after a scheduled game against Denver on Sunday was postponed because of extreme weather. The layoff did not provide enough relief as the Grizzlies faded late.
Reed Sheppard, named earlier Monday to the Rising Stars game for All-Star weekend, scored four points on 2-for-11 shooting for Houston. Despite his shooting struggles, the Rockets maintained control with defensive pressure and ball movement.
The win improved Houston to 28-16, good for fourth in the Western Conference. Memphis fell to 18-26 and sits 11th in the conference.
The Grizzlies return home to host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The Rockets remain at Toyota Center to face the San Antonio Spurs the same night.
