Southwest Division foes will lock horns when the Houston Rockets (5-9) play the Memphis Grizzlies (8-7) at the Toyota Center. Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and can be seen on NBA and RSW.
The Rockets are hoping for a better outcome after their 107-102 loss to the Knicks on Saturday. Despite the loss, James Harden earned his fourth double-double this season with 24 points and 10 assists. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming off a 110-96 win against the Mavericks on Tuesday. Mike Conley was the game’s top scorer, accounting for 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting.
Conley has been hot for the Grizzlies, averaging 21.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers over the past five games.
It will be a showdown of conflicting tempos, as the fast-paced Rockets (ranked fourth in the NBA in possessions per game) will look to push the slow-paced Grizzlies (27th in possessions per game).
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Grizzlies winning the first matchup 96-84. Marc Gasol put up a triple-double in the victory, with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
The Rockets have gone 5-9 Straight Up (SU) and 3-11 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have only managed a record of 2-8 ATS.
Over on the other bench, the Grizzlies have 8-7 SU and 7-8 ATS records. Against the Western Conference, Memphis is 6-6 SU and ATS. The Grizzlies convert their free throws at a high percentage, leading the league at .831. Moving on to Memphis’s defense, the Grizzlies are a terror in the passing lanes, averaging an impressive 9.7 steals per game.
Memphis beat Houston in their most recent meeting this season, bumping its SU record over the last 10 meetings to 6-4. The Grizzlies also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – Mem
Notes
Houston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games.
Houston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston’s last 6 games at home.
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Houston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games when playing Memphis.
Houston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Memphis.
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Memphis.
Houston is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Memphis.
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Houston’s last 14 games when playing at home against Memphis.
Houston ranks 18th in points per game with 100.2, while Memphis ranks 13th in points allowed with an average of 99.9 given up.
On average, Houston scores 100.8 points per home game (ranked 15th), while Memphis allows 100.9 points per away game (ranked 12th).
The Houston Rockets are winless (0-1) in games where they allow fewer than 100 points. The Memphis Grizzlies are just 1-7 when they fail to hit triple digits.
When Houston gives up 100 or more points, the team is a poor 5-8. In games where it reaches the century mark, Memphis is undefeated with a 7-0 record.
The Rockets have an offensive rating of 98.5 (ranked 26th). The Grizzlies rank 19th for their defensive rating of 103.0.
The Houston Rockets average 101.7 possessions per game and .985 points per possession, while the Memphis Grizzlies earn fewer possessions (96.2) but more points per possession (.995).
The Memphis Grizzlies average an effective field goal percentage of 45.4% this season. The Houston Rockets have an underachieving record of 4-9 when opponents have an EFF% of 45.4% or greater.
Houston makes an average of 20.6 assists per game (ranked 20th). Memphis ranks higher in assists with 20.9 (ranked 19th).
Houston makes an average of 5.9 blocks per game (ranked eighth), while Memphis makes 3.9 blocks per game (ranked 25th).
Houston is ranked ninth in offensive rebounding. Memphis ranks 29th in defensive rebounds.
Making 9.4 steals per game, Houston is ranked sixth in the NBA. Memphis has a winning 2-1 record when it allows at least 9 steals.
