Conley scores 19 as Grizzlies rout Rockets
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Conley scored 19 points and the Memphis Grizzlies easily defeated the Houston Rockets 119-93 on Monday night in a matchup of the teams with the NBA's best records.
Whatever showdown was expected from the two 9-1 teams and among the best defensive squads in the league never materialized as Memphis took a 16-point lead in the first quarter and extended it in each of the remaining periods, until it reached 36 points in the fourth frame.
Seven players finished in double figures for Memphis which won its fourth straight overall. Courtney Lee finished with 15 points, while Zach Randolph added 14. Quincy Pondexter, Beno Udrih and Jon Leuer had 13 points each.
Trevor Ariza led the Rockets with 16 points, while Dwight Howard had 15 points and nine rebounds. Patrick Beverly managed 10 points. James Harden had six points, going 1 of 8 from the field.
The Rockets, who entered the game allowing a league-low 89 points a game, had given up that many by the end of the third quarter.
Houston, which was coming off a 69-65 win Sunday night at Oklahoma City, was a step off all night. Through three quarters, Harden, having to deal with Tony Allen, was misfiring and appeared frustrated. Turnovers plagued the Rockets from the start and the shooting hovered around 40 percent as Memphis took the lead to as many as 31 in the third quarter.
Houston coach Kevin McHale considered it pointless after three with Memphis leading 97-66 and sat his key players for the fourth.
The Rockets finished the game shooting 44 percent and committing 21 turnovers, leading to 31 Memphis points.
Memphis dominated the first half on both ends of the floor. The Grizzlies shot 58 percent for the half, including 5 of 11 from outside the arc. Conley had 15 points and Pondexter scored 13 off the bench.
Defensively, Memphis forced the Rockets into 10 turnovers in the first quarter enroute to 15 for the half. Add to that Houston shooting 41 percent, and Memphis held a 65-42 lead at halftime in what was the Grizzlies best overall performance for a half this season.
Ariza led the Rockets with 12 points.
Memphis lost a bit of focus to start the second half, committing four turnovers in the first 3 minutes. Despite the miscues, Houston couldn't capitalize and get the deficit to a manageable point.
Once Memphis withstood that run, the Rockets had little left to push again.
Memphis finished the game shooting 54 percent against a Houston team that entered the game allowing only 40.3 percent, best in the league.
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TIP-INS:
Rockets: The Rockets have two former University of Memphis post players - rookie Tarik Black and Joey Dorsey. Black, who left Memphis for one year at Kansas, was booed when he entered in the first quarter. Dorsey received a nice ovation when he came in. .Howard entered the game averaging 8 pts and 7.6 rebounds in the last seven games against Memphis. .The loss was the Rockets first on the road this season after winning their first six.
Grizzlies: Memphis' 10-1 record extended its franchise-best start to a season. Memphis also extended its regular season home winning streak to 20 straight, the last loss coming in February to Dallas. .The 26-point winning margin was the largest of the season for Memphis, more than double its previous best of 12 over New Orleans on Nov. 3.
UP NEXT:
Rockets: Host Lakers on Wednesday night.
Grizzlies: Visits Toronto on Wednesday night.