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Last night, your Memphis Grizzlies fell in a three-point scoring barrage against Mike D’Antoni and James Harden’s Houston Rockets. The Rockets took 42 triples, making 18 (42.9%), whereas Memphis took 28, converting just 8 (28.6%). That’s a 30-point difference right there. After a fairly even first half, things got... (ahem) grizzly for Memphis when James Harden started going insane. Former Rocket Chandler Parsons had... 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting. Daryl Morey does not miss his knees or back.
Pregame
Daryl Morey is in Beantown today. More occupied with chatting up WOJ et al.
Top newsmakers in sport all on one stage! @WojVerticalNBA @AdamSchefter @Ken_Rosenthal #SSAC17 pic.twitter.com/qMd7mwo8ua
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) March 4, 2017
The Dream Shake, SB Nation’s Rockets page, is a stoked corgi right now:
Waiting for tonight’s game like pic.twitter.com/kDvXHnq0gW
— The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) March 4, 2017
CP concludes a back-to-back (his first of the season in Memphis) against his old Texas stomping grounds, as chronicled in... the Houston Chronicle. Sort of sad how they note that Parsons has been booed on the home floors for all three of the NBA teams he’s played for, but there’s no need to cry for him. Because, you know, he’s making $94 million.
Rockets game a steppingstone for Grizzlies' Chandler Parsons https://t.co/k9JcgkcTUC
— Chronicle Sports (@ChronSports) March 5, 2017
First Half
All Star vs. All Star in a battle royale on that switch.
Rockets have not been happy with Marc Gasol and how he uses his arms and hands for physical contact. Harden thought he got popped by Gasol.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 5, 2017
Not looking too shabby entering the break.
A battle between playoff contenders in Houston.@HoustonRockets lead the @memgrizz 55-51 at the break.
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2017
Conley - 13p/4a
Harden - 10p/6a pic.twitter.com/WeaPTtYKyz
Second Half
The third quarter was when the Rockets pulled away. Maybe it’s not such a coincidence that The Beard himself was so involved in all the buckets for most of the period.
Harden has either scored or assisted on all 20 points in the third for the Rockets.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 5, 2017
Not a stellar turn from that much-ballyhooed Grit ‘N’ Grind defense down low tonight.
Capela with his second game with 20 points and double-digit rebounds has a career-high 24 points, with 11 rebounds. He's 8 of 10 from line.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 5, 2017
Postgame
The Rockets have officially become a Daryl Morey wet dream. And it totally works.
The #Rockets full game shot-chart vs. the Clippers. Only 4 TOTAL mid-range attempts by Houston (Beverley, Nene, and Lou Will). pic.twitter.com/g7pPW8R2MW
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 2, 2017
The Dream Shake is hyped about Eric Gordon’s record-setting night (most trey’s made off the bench in NBA history for a season). But I think they just jinxed his health down the stretch. Go Grizz.
He's missed 6 games and there are 19 games left. https://t.co/YfVXFejb51
— The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) March 5, 2017
“GOAT stats?” As in Greatest Of All Time? What? “MVP stats,” sure. BUT NOT GOAT STATS. NEVER GOAT STATS UNTIL HE PLAYS DEFENSE.
.@JHarden13 stats ⤵️
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 5, 2017
33 points (20 in the 3rd)
11 assists
7 rebounds pic.twitter.com/1gek7G1iED
Oh thanks Red Nation Hoops. RUB IT IN. Would you like our hearts as well? You’ll find them on the bottom of your shoes.
The Houston Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 games.
— Red Nation Hoops (@RedNationHoops) March 5, 2017
So really, tonight’s massacre was all Paul George’s fault.
Rockets have blown out Memphis and the Clippers since Mike D'Antoni called them soft after Monday's loss to Indiana
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 5, 2017
FANRAG POURING SALT INTO OUR OPEN WOUNDS.
BREAKING #Rockets are very good.
— FanRag Sports NBA (@FanRagNBA) March 5, 2017
Clint Capella sounds like he just woke up from a nap. Only his sweat betrays the truth.
Clint Capela following win over the Grizzlies: https://t.co/D5p3SiArvM via @YouTube
— Joshua Reese (@MrJoshua) March 5, 2017
Oh, and this. This also betrays the truth.
The @HoustonRockets fly by the @memgrizz 123-108!
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2017
Harden caught fire in the third dropping 20 of his 33 points! #NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/SIc5B2mW4h
At the end of the day, I think the most imperative takeaway from tonight is that, sometimes, ballers gonna ball. Harden’s not the GOAT. But he’s the MVP.
James Harden has his 20th 30-point, 10-assist game of the season. He had 21 such game in his first seven seasons.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 5, 2017