With 27 points for the game on elite efficiency and 8 in the fourth quarter, Houston won at Memphis to extend its lead for the No. 2 seed in the West.
The Washington Wizards host the Houston Rockets in a cross-conference matchup on Tuesday's NBA schedule. Washington is 6-27 overall and 5-14 at home, while Houston is 23-12 overall and 10-6 on the road.
Alperen Sengun collected 32 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, Jalen Green added 27 points and Fred VanVleet contributed 22 to lead the Houston Rockets past the Memphis Grizzlies 119-115 for their fifth straight road victory.
This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.
NBA teams generally do not like to publicly admit that they think of any game as a guaranteed win, but the Washington Wizards’ dismal record this season has tended to bring out the best in their opponents.
Ja Morant (21.2 ppg) is getting closer to returning for the Grizzlies, but it appears that his shoulder sprain will keep him out for at least one more game tonight. Desmond Bane (16.7 ppg) is questionable with a sprained ankle, while reserves Marcus Smart (9.2 ppg) and Santi Aldama (13.0 ppg) are also on the mend.
The Jimmy Butler saga has been one of the biggest storylines of the season so far, with his relationship with the Miami Heat becoming more strained by the day.
Here's how Zach Edey fared in his 24th NBA game for the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets held the Wiz to 40.9% shooting, were +24 in rebounding, and beat them up on the margins, outscoring Washington 23-11 in fast-break points and 60-38 in the paint. It's a big spread, but it could be bigger. Washington is overmatched at every level.
After working on several notable NBA staffs — and winning two championships — Longabardi coveted his current position as the Blue Coats' head coach.