The matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Memphis Grizzlies was a rollercoaster, even when it comes to emotions. Dillon Brooks, in his second game against his former team, began menacing. Standing on the sidelines, he stared down at his ex-teammates, locking onto his character. The plot thickened as he was soon honored with a tribute video, leading the typically ‘villainous’ Brooks to unexpectedly get emotional. However, once the game commenced, he swiftly put those sentiments aside and brought his A-game, seeking revenge against his former team. Brooks spearheaded the Rockets with 26 points and 9 assists for a 103-96 victory.

Grizzlies shot well but struggled to maintain it

The Memphis Grizzlies made a formidable start with a commanding 27-14 first quarter. Thanks to Vince Williams Jr. in the starting lineup, who enabled the early surge with eight points, three assists, and two rebounds during the first quarter. Furthermore, despite a remarkable 31-point comeback by the Rockets, the Grizzlies maintained a solid 55-45 lead at halftime.

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However, their fortunes took a downturn after the third quarter. The Rockets steadily narrowed the gap while Memphis faced shooting struggles. Even though the two teams’ overall shooting percentages sit closely, the game concluded with the Grizzlies shooting a mere 29.7% from beyond the arc.

Dillon Brook got the best of his former teammates

Dillon Brooks, aiming to get into the heads of his former teammates during the second half, succeeded in unsettling Desmond Bane. The Memphis guard was initially seen resisting any engagement with Brooks. However, he eventually succumbed after gaining an upper edge from a Brooks turnover. In the early fourth quarter, Brooks intensified his defensive efforts. He was face-guarding Bane and making it tough for the Grizzlies to get him the ball. With escalating tensions and a few multiple successful plays by the Grizzlies, a verbal exchange erupted between the former teammates. This eventually resulted in Bane receiving a costly technical.

Brooks also made significant contributions on the offensive end, tallying 12 points in the third quarter and hitting timely shots late in the fourth. However, for Memphis, their foul troubles persisted, with Jaren Jackson picking up his fifth foul with nearly six minutes remaining in the game.

Memphis’ bench needs to make noise

Houston deployed an 8-man rotation. 2 out of their 3 bench players achieved double-digit scores. Moreover, they did it efficiently, collectively shooting at 50%. On the other hand, the Grizzlies’ 5-man bench struggled, going 8-22 from the field. Despite Derrick Rose‘s injury creating an early opportunity for extended playing time, none of the Grizzlies players managed to reach the double-digit mark. Their bench was a clear indication of why the Grizzlies struggled to balance out the fireworks in crunch time.

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