Houston Rockets (12-9, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (6-17, 14th in the Western Conference)
Memphis, Tennessee; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Memphis hosts the Houston Rockets after Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 44 points in the Memphis Grizzlies' 117-104 loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Grizzlies are 2-5 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Memphis is fifth in the Western Conference in team defense, giving up just 112.7 points while holding opponents to 46.1% shooting.
The Rockets are 4-2 against Southwest Division opponents. Houston is second in the Western Conference with 35.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Jabari Smith Jr. averaging 6.9.
The Grizzlies score 106.4 points per game, 0.9 more points than the 105.5 the Rockets allow. The Rockets average 12.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 fewer made shots on average than the 14.5 per game the Grizzlies allow.
The teams play for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Dec. 14 the Rockets won 117-104 led by 25 points from Tari Eason, while Jackson scored 44 points for the Grizzlies.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jackson is scoring 21.8 points per game with 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 42.7% over the past 10 games for Memphis.
Alperen Sengun is averaging 20 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Rockets. Jalen Green is averaging 17.8 points and 3.1 assists over the past 10 games for Houston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Grizzlies: 3-7, averaging 103.5 points, 41.0 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.7 points per game.
Rockets: 6-4, averaging 110.2 points, 49.3 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 5.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.3 points.
INJURIES: Grizzlies: Marcus Smart: out (ankle), Brandon Clarke: out (achilles), Desmond Bane: out (illness), Steven Adams: out for season (knee), Luke Kennard: out (knee).
Rockets: Victor Oladipo: out (knee), Amen Thompson: out (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
