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Rockets stumble as Grizzlies snatch victory in controversial finish
Jan 31, 2025, 12:11 pm
Grizzlies defeat the Rockets, 120-119. Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.
Desmond Bane had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Jaren Jackson Jr. made the go-ahead free throws with 8.6 seconds left and scored 21, and the Memphis Grizzlies rallied past the Houston Rockets 120-119 on Thursday night.
Luke Kennard added 21 points and Santi Aldama had 15 for Memphis, which has won six of seven.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 25 points. Dillon Brooks had 22 points and Amen Thompson finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Houston's four-game winning streak ended.
Memphis (32-16) moved within one-half game of Houston for second in the Western Conference.
Both teams were without key players. Houston's Alperen Sengun, who was announced as a Western Conference All-Star reserve earlier Thursday, was out with a left calf contusion, and Memphis guard Ja Morant sat out with right shoulder soreness.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston built an 11-point first-half lead on the strength of its 3-point shooting, but couldn't hold off Memphis down the stretch.
Grizzlies: Memphis finally got past Houston after losing the teams' previous three meetings this season.
Key moment
WIth 13 seconds left, the Grizzlies' Jaylen Wells was driving for a go-ahead, fast-break layup when official Marat Kogut called timeout. Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins was livid, saying he never called timeout, and it appeared he was motioning for Wells to drive to the basket rather than signaling to stop the clock. However, Jackson drove into the paint and was fouled after the timeout, setting up the go-ahead free throws.
Key stat
The Rockets grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, leading to 30 points.
Up next
The Rockets host Brooklyn on Saturday. The Grizzlies play at Milwaukee on Sunday.
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The Astros know how to win these games, and it shows
Jun 29, 2025, 4:28 pm
Kyle Tucker launched a three-run homer and matched a season high with four hits against the team that traded him in December, and the Chicago Cubs routed Houston 12-3 on Saturday night to stop the Astros' five-game winning streak.
Tucker also scored four times to pace a Cubs lineup that pounded out 15 hits, including three by Dansby Swanson. Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner also went deep.
Chicago hit three homers in an inning for the second time this season during a seven-run fourth. Busch and Hoerner had back-to-back solo shots to put the Cubs on top 3-2, and Tucker’s drive made it 7-2.
The offensive outburst came in support of Colin Rea (5-3), who allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. The only blemish on his line was rookie Cam Smith’s two-run homer in the third, which briefly gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Smith, part of the package Houston received for Tucker, finished with two hits and has homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Lance McCullers Jr. (1-3) came off the injured list and allowed eight runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Isaac Paredes, also part of the Astros' trade return for Tucker, hit his 17th home run.
Key moment
Tucker’s three-run homer in the fourth that put the Cubs ahead 7-2.
Key stat
McCullers has a 10.89 ERA in five home starts this season, but hasn’t allowed an earned run in three road starts.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.88 ERA) opposes RHP Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.77 ERA) when the series concludes Sunday.