The Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies will square off Sunday night in the second of three scrimmages at the “bubble” complex in Florida, leading up to the NBA’s regular-season restart later in the week.
The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. Central from Disney World, with a national broadcast on NBA TV. It is also available on NBA League Pass.
Houston lost its first scrimmage on Friday versus defending NBA champion Toronto, though the Rockets led for most of the game until the fourth quarter — comprised primarily of backups.
All-Star guard James Harden led the way with 24 points and 10 assists in just 25 minutes, while co-star Russell Westbrook had 10 points and nine rebounds in 15 first-half minutes. Westbrook’s playing time was limited due to his late arrival at training camp after a positive COVID-19 test.
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Unlike Friday’s game, Westbrook is expected to play in both halves on Sunday. The Grizzlies, who have lost two of three games in the 2019-20 season against the Rockets, are led by prized guard and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant. Memphis (32-33) is currently the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, while Houston (40-24) is tied for No. 5.
Memphis lost its first scrimmage to Philadelphia, 90-83. Unlike Friday’s initial scrimmages, which featured smaller 10-minute quarters as teams slowly ramp up after the NBA’s extended COVID-19 hiatus, Sunday’s game will have 12-minute quarters — just like the regular season.
The Rockets have already clinched a playoff spot, whereas the Grizzlies are still battling to secure the West’s eighth and final bid. The scrimmage slate for both teams finishes Tuesday, with the regular season resuming for Memphis (versus Portland) and Houston (versus Dallas) on Friday.
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