The Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies enter Friday’s matchup at FedExForum with significant absences on both sides, as confirmed by the official NBA injury report.
Houston will be without Steven Adams (left ankle, surgery), Fred VanVleet (right knee, ACL repair), and two-way player Tristen Newton.
Memphis’ injury situation is more extensive, with Ja Morant (left elbow, UCL sprain), Zach Edey (left ankle and elbow, surgery recovery), Brandon Clarke (right calf strain), and Santi Aldama (right knee, surgery recovery) all out. Additional players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jaylen Wells, are sidelined or listed as doubtful.
The Rockets have lost their last two games, falling 110-108 in overtime at Minnesota and 132-124 at Chicago.
Houston will rely heavily on stars Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. to carry the scoring load and maintain playoff positioning in the Western Conference, where they sit sixth at 43-29. Durant is averaging 26 points per game, while Sengun contributes 20.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest.
Memphis has also dropped consecutive contests, including a 123-98 home loss to the Spurs and a 146-107 defeat at Atlanta.
The Grizzlies are locked in 12th place in the West with a 24-48 record, and the team will depend on role players such as Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward, although Wells is questionable for tonight.
The Rockets swept Memphis in two prior meetings this season, including a 124-109 victory at FedExForum.
Friday’s tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET at FedExForum.
