A few hours after Ja Morant's press conference, there was emotion again on the Memphis side with the big return of Dillon Brooks at the FedEx Forum. Left free by the Grizzlies this summer, the Canadian winger bounced back to the Rockets, and he really hurt his former teammates by scoring 24 of his 26 points after the break! Under his leadership, Houston won a 6th victory in a row (103-96), while Taylor Jenkins' players posted a sad record at home: one victory in eleven matches.
However, it was the Grizzlies who had the best start, facing the clumsy and sleepy Rockets. Jaren Jackson Jr. dominates Alperen Sengun with his left paw, and covers Jabari Smith Jr. with both hands. At his side, Derrick Rose punishes Fred VanVleet with 3-points, and Memphis takes the lead: 29-14 after one quarter.
How often, it is Tari Eason who wakes up his teammates, supported by Jeff Green, who scores with the foul on the head of “JJJ”. There is better in Houston, while Derrick Rose returned to the locker room with a wheezing adductor. The Smith-Sengun pair is better off, and Jalen Green scores a complicated basket on the counterattack. At the break, Houston was only trailing 55-45.
The winning basket for… Dillon Brooks!
Returning from the locker room, Dillon Brooks comes out of his box, and he is wild. This is the Brooks of the World Cup, like this superb “fadeaway” baseline. Houston locks access to the basket, like on this big counter from Sengun on Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies are overwhelmed, and Houston signs an 8-0 to take the lead (72-70).
The 4th quarter is stifling, and every basket counts double. Like this little “hook shot” from Sengun to maintain a small gap (83-78). On the Memphis side, it's the improbable Vince Williams Jr. who punishes in the corner, well served by Jaren Jackson Jr. But the Rockets hold on, and it's Dillon Brooks, more than 8 meters away, who air-conditions the room with the winning basket (99-93). Desmond Bane's defense was there, but Brooks can taunt his former audience, the Grizzlies will not recover (103-96).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The emotion of Dillon Brooks. First there was the presentation of the teams during which he was announced last to receive a big ovation. Then, at the first timeout of the meeting, the whole room stood up and the leaders broadcast a tribute clip on the “Jumbotron”. With reddened eyes, Dillon Brooks seemed very touched by this welcome and this “Thank You” video. Perhaps his subdued first half was due to emotion.
– The contribution of the Rockets bench. Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green and Tari Eason were on the field in the final minute, and that speaks volumes about their impact, and the confidence Ime Udoka has in them. They were the ones who woke up the Rockets in the second quarter, after their ugly 6 out of 24 shooting in the 1st quarter.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
