With a lighter slate of opponents on the horizon, the Memphis Grizzlies came out eager to improve on their recent play and get back in the win column on Monday against Houston. The result was their most complete game of the season and a 109-97 victory. Their goal was to play better, play harder and play smarter. Mission Accomplished.
Rudy Gay came off the bench for the first time this season and responded by leading the team with 20 points in 24 minutes of action. Quentin Ross knocked down a 3-pointer to open the game, and the Grizzlies' offense rolled from there. Houston never led in the game, getting as close as within two points in the third quarter. The Grizzlies' lead reached as many as 22 points in the first half, and despite an 18-6 surge by the Rockets to close the first half, the team remained calm. They held a dominant edge in scoring through most of the third quarter, answering another Houston run with a 15-9 spurt of their own. The Rockets still won the quarter, 28-27, giving the Grizzlies their first win of the season when losing the third quarter.
Players didn't approach the subject of a coaching change before or after the game, only saying that they knew they had been underperforming and needed to step up.
Darko Milicic provided an unusual spectacle in the third quarter when, after being benched following a technical foul, he ripped his jersey down the front from collar to tail. The incident represented his frustration, but he contributed five points, five rebounds and a block.
The Grizzlies turned the ball over only nine times to the Rockets' 17, shot 51 percent (43 pecent from 3-point range) and blocked seven shots.
Each team had six players score in double figures with Rafer Alston and Luis Scola leading the Rockets with 16 apiece. The Grizzlies limited Yao Ming to 14 points and four rebounds.
Marc Gasol finished with 10 points and three blocks, while Hakim Warrick recorded 18 points and eight rebounds and O.J. Mayo also added 18 points. Kyle Lowry had a great night, knocking down a pair of 3's on his way to 11 points and five assists.
The Grizzlies need to come out with this same energy as they enter a stretch of winnable games against Oklahoma City, Chicago and Miami to close out this week. After last week's embarrassing home loss, they should be especially hungry to attack the Thunder like they attacked the Rockets.
Keywords: Darko Milicic, Houston Rockets, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, O.J. Mayo, Rafer Alston, Rudy Gay
