Rockets Rally Past Grizzlies 120-118 Behind Green’s 42-Point Explosion

HOUSTON — Jalen Green tied his career high with 42 points, including a clutch layup late in the game, as the Houston Rockets rallied to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-118 on Monday night at Toyota Center.

The Rockets trailed by 12 points in the fourth quarter before mounting a 16-2 run to take a 107-105 lead with 4:30 remaining. Green and Fred VanVleet hit key 3-pointers during the surge, while rookie Amen Thompson added six points to help Houston erase the deficit.

Memphis briefly regained the lead at 115-114 after a 3-pointer and a steal-and-layup sequence with under a minute left. However, Green responded with a go-ahead layup, and a critical turnover by the Grizzlies gave Houston possession. VanVleet was fouled and sank two free throws with 8.1 seconds left, extending the Rockets’ lead to 118-115.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant missed two free throws in the closing seconds, and Green sealed the victory with two more free throws, making it 120-115 with 2.1 seconds remaining.

Morant finished with 29 points for Memphis, including a 38-foot 3-pointer that gave the Grizzlies a 12-point lead earlier in the fourth. Desmond Bane added 25 points in the losing effort.

The win marked Houston’s fourth consecutive victory and their second straight over Memphis, following a 119-115 triumph on Thursday. The Rockets improved to 26-12, solidifying their position among the Western Conference’s top teams.

Houston dominated the boards, outrebounding Memphis 15-8 on the offensive glass. The Grizzlies, now 25-15, will look to regroup as they face the San Antonio Spurs in back-to-back games starting Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Rockets will visit the Denver Nuggets on the same night.