Memphis Grizzlies vs Houston Rockets Box Score on Nov 11, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 11, 2017

HOUSTON -- James Harden and Eric Gordon combined for 64 points as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to five games with a 111-96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night at Toyota Center.

Harden paired 38 points with eight assists while Gordon scored 26. That backcourt tandem shot 12 of 25 on 3-pointers as the Rockets (10-3) withstood a series of runs from the Grizzlies (7-5), who claimed the first two meetings between the Southwest Division rivals this season.

Memphis fell into a 28-10 first-quarter hole and spent the remainder of the game attempting to catch up. Undermining those efforts was the combined 10-for-26 shooting by Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, who totaled 27 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies. Tyreke Evans paced Memphis with 22 points and six assists off the bench.

The Rockets led by as many as 25 points.

There were spurts throughout but the first one by Houston, a 9-0 run on three catch-and-shoot 3s to open the game, set the tone. The Rockets extended to an 18-point lead on a Nene finger roll with 4:03 left in the first quarter before Evans helped Memphis respond with seven consecutive points as part of a 9-0 rally. But at the end of the quarter, Harden stabilized things.

With a reverse layup and a 3-pointer, Harden pushed the Houston lead back to double digits. When Memphis cut a 15-point, second-quarter deficit to five at the 2:34 mark, Harden answered again, closing the half with two free throws, a driving layup and a 3-pointer.

This pattern continued in the third quarter until Memphis managed just two field goals over the final four minutes while Houston closed with 15-4 push with Harden tallying nine points.

NOTES: Grizzlies G Ben McLemore made his season debut after missing the first 11 games following offseason surgery on his right toe. McLemore will play off the bench and in "short bursts," according to coach David Fizdale, at least until McLemore gets his body in game shape. ... Rockets F Luc Mbah a Moute returned to the rotation after missing one game with a left knee contusion. The timing of his return couldn't be better with Houston facing a back-to-back and set to play three games in four days, including hosting Toronto on Tuesday. ... With Rockets C Nene making an appearance off the bench in the first quarter, he will not play on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. Reserve C Tarik Black will serve as the backup to Clint Capela.