HOUSTON — Jalen Green (33 points) and Alperen Sengun (23 points, 12 rebounds) played well at home, but they couldn’t match Ja Morant (49 points, 8 assists) as the Memphis Grizzlies rallied past the Rockets on Friday night at Toyota Center, 129-122 (box score).
The young and rebuilding Rockets (0-2) had a sold-out crowd for their home opener and fed off that energy for much of the game, scoring 70 points in the first half alone. But the Grizzlies (2-0), who finished with the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last season, took over late with a commanding 34-22 showing in the fourth quarter.
Morant, a perennial All-Star connected on 17-of-26 shots (65.4%) from the field, shooting 5-of-6 on 3-pointers (83.3%) and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line (76.9%). John Konchar added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%), including 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
Green connected on 13-of-21 shots (61.9%) for the Rockets and Sengun went 9-of-13 (69.2%), though the big man made just 4-of-10 free throws (40.0%). Sengun played 27 minutes after starting center Bruno Fernando left early in the second half with left knee soreness.
Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 points and 5 rebounds for the Rockets, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). Eric Gordon had 17 points and 4 assists, and he made 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews. The Rockets return to action Saturday for night two of a split back-to-back in Milwaukee, with the tip set for 7 p.m. Central.