Rockets 105, Grizzlies 96
James Harden led a balanced attack with 21 points as host Houston won for the fifth time in six games while snapping Memphis' five-game winning streak.
Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry scored 16 points apiece and Donatas Motiejunas finished with 15 for the Rockets, who improved to 5-2 since All-Star center Dwight Howard was sidelined with a knee injury. Rookie Tarik Black contributed 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to help Houston record a 52-39 advantage on the glass.
Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 15 points and Tony Allen chipped in 10 in 15 minutes of action. Big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for just 16 points, more than 20 below their collective average, as Memphis finished a four-game road trip at 3-1.
The Grizzlies hit their first eight shots to go up 16-8 before the Rockets began to take charge, closing the first quarter on a 26-12 run and moving ahead 55-39 on Motiejunas' basket with 3:39 left in the first half. Houston went scoreless the final 3:02 of the half to allow Memphis to claw within 12 points at the break but broke it open once again after intermission.
Ariza's 3-pointer capped a 10-0 burst out of the locker room and he added seven points in a 45-second span as the lead ballooned to 79-54 midway through the third. It was a 27-point gap entering the final quarter, which gave the Rockets more than enough cushion to survive a game-ending 12-0 run by Memphis.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Howard is expected to miss at least two more games, according to reports. ... Memphis hit 2-of-13 3-pointers while Houston was 10-for-28. ... Terry had four steals and both Harden and Ariza recorded three as the Rockets finished with 14.