Game ID: 22501194
Memphis Grizzlies @ Houston Rockets
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 8:30 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 32 34 34 32 132MEM 26 19 26 30 101
HOU vs MEM ScoutingHOU vs MEM Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 12 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/03 after 4, 9 min since (56% of 16)
HOU availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 13 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/03 after 4, 9 min since (56% of 16)
HOU availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 14 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Finney-Smith missed 3 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 15 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 4 since 4/05, returns tonight: 21 min (129% of 16)
OUT Newton missed 16 since 3/13, returns tonight: 12 min (100% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/18 · 5 days' restBACK Finney-Smith back 4/12 after 4, 21 min since (129% of 16)
BACK Newton back 4/12 after 16, 12 min since (100% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/21 · 2 days' restOUT Durant missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 41 min (112% of 36)
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/12 after 4, 21 min since (129% of 16)
BACK Newton back 4/12 after 16, 12 min since (100% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 4/18, returns tonight: 11 min (67% of 16)
BACK Durant back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Newton back 4/12 after 16, 12 min since (100% of 12)
NEW Okogie 17 to 24 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 4/26 · 1 day's restBACK Durant back 4/21 after 2, 41 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Finney-Smith back 4/12 after 4, 16 min since (98% of 16)
BACK Newton back 4/12 after 16, 12 min since (100% of 12)
NEW Thompson 38 to 44 min over the last 4
NEW Smith Jr. 36 to 41 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Wells missed 6 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/28 after 2, 28 min since (89% of 31)
BACK Mashack back 3/28 after 6, 26 min since (121% of 22)
MEM availability going into 4/06 · back-to-backOUT Wells missed 7 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 2 since 4/03, returns tonight: 21 min (88% of 24)
BACK Rupert back 3/28 after 2, 31 min since (101% of 31)
BACK Mashack back 3/28 after 6, 26 min since (121% of 22)
MEM availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Wells missed 8 since 3/25, not on tonight's roster
OUT Mashack missed 2 since 4/05, returns tonight: 33 min (151% of 22)
OUT Small missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 4/03 after 2, 32 min since (103% of 31)
BACK Spencer back 4/06 after 2, 21 min since (88% of 24)
MEM availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Rupert missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 40 min (129% of 31)
OUT Small missed 3 since 4/05, out tonight
BACK Spencer back 4/06 after 2, 21 min since (88% of 24)
BACK Mashack back 4/08 after 2, 33 min since (151% of 22)
MEM availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Spencer missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Jackson missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Small missed 4 since 4/05, returns tonight: 26 min (128% of 20)
OUT Prosper missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 4/03 after 2, 35 min since (112% of 31)
BACK Mashack back 4/08 after 2, 40 min since (186% of 22)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (4 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 137, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Coward at 18 and Rupert at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Spencer (2 straight), Jackson (2 straight), Small (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Memphis minus-13 and the defense, Houston allowing 113 a night to Memphis's 137. Call it Houston 125, Memphis 112, Houston by 13.
4/05 @ GSW 117-116 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-116. HOU shot 55% (44 of 80) to GSW's 50%, 13 of 29 from three. Durant led with 31 (10 of 17, 3 of 6 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Sengun added 24, Smith Jr. 23. The hinge was Q3, 37-29: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 15. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/07 @ PHX 119-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-105. HOU shot 45% (45 of 100) to PHX's 43%, 14 of 38 from three, and got to the line 16 times to PHX's 39. The glass went 55-34 for them. Durant led with 24 (8 of 20, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 22, Smith Jr. 20. The hinge was Q4, 38-21: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 14. HOU trailed 54-57 at the half and won the second half 65-48. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/09 vs PHI 113-102 — HOU notes
HOU won 113-102. HOU shot 45% (42 of 93) to PHI's 45%, 11 of 32 from three. Durant led with 29 (10 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Thompson added 19, Smith Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 35-26: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/10 vs MIN 132-136 — HOU notes
HOU lost 132-136. HOU shot 61% (53 of 87) to MIN's 57%, 4 of 19 from three. HOU turned it over 12 times to MIN's 7. The glass went 39-25 for them. Thompson led with 41 (17 of 22, 7 of 7 at the line); Durant added 33, Sengun 22. Q2 was theirs, 37-32, turning a 1-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 104-95 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sheppard's -17 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 vs MEM 132-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 132-101. HOU shot 46% (48 of 105) to MEM's 41%, 14 of 49 from three, and went to the line 30 times to MEM's 10 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 64-37 for them. Capela led with 23 (9 of 11, 4 of 7 at the line); Eason added 20, Sheppard 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-19: a lead of 6 became 21, and the lead reached 39. Capela was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
4/18 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 26 and Hachimura at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Reaves (5 straight), Hayes (4 straight). 5 days' rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Thompson at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. 5 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and the Lakers minus-1 and the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Houston's 34. Call it the Lakers 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
4/21 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 101, shooting 54 percent and 45 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 23 and Hachimura at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reaves (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Thompson at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Durant (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and the Lakers minus-5 and the arc, the Lakers at 45 percent from three to Houston's 32. Call it the Lakers 113, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
4/24 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 95, shooting 55 percent and 48 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 24 and Kennard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reaves (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 48 percent from three to Houston's 29 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and the Lakers minus-5. Call it Houston 111, the Lakers 110, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/26 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Thompson at 25 and Sengun at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 96, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 24 and Kennard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reaves (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 45 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and the Lakers minus-5. Call it Houston 111, the Lakers 110, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/05 @ MIL 115-131 — MEM notes
MEM lost 115-131. MEM took 9 more shots (92 to 83), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to MIL's 60%, 17 of 46 from three. MEM turned it over 14 times to MIL's 20. Rupert led with 33 (9 of 19, 2 of 6 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); Clayton Jr. added 20, Whitehead 16. Q2 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 9 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 103-84 against them. Bal's -18 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs CLE 126-142 — MEM notes
MEM lost 126-142. MEM shot 48% (45 of 94) to CLE's 58%, 29 of 59 from three, and got to the line just 10 times against 27 fouls committed. The glass went 31-48 against them. Prosper led with 24 (10 of 12, 4 of 5 from three); Bal added 20, Whitehead 20. Q1 was theirs, 36-24, but the other 3 periods went 118-90 against them. They led by as many as 17. Whitehead's -33 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 @ DEN 119-136 — MEM notes
MEM lost 119-136. MEM shot 46% (42 of 92) to DEN's 59%, 19 of 50 from three. MEM turned it over 6 times to DEN's 12. The glass went 38-52 against them. Coward led with 27 (10 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Williamson added 16, Hendricks 16. Q2 was theirs, 39-31, turning a 4-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 105-80 against them. Mashack's -30 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 @ UTA 101-147 — MEM notes
MEM lost 101-147. MEM shot 38% (41 of 109) to UTA's 56%, 11 of 52 from three, and got to the line 9 times to UTA's 17. The glass went 47-64 against them. Whitehead led with 21 (8 of 18, 3 of 10 from three); Okani added 20, Bal 18. Q1 was theirs, 30-33, but the other 3 periods went 114-71 against them. Mashack's -46 in 48 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 @ HOU 101-132 — MEM notes
MEM lost 101-132. MEM shot 41% (39 of 95) to HOU's 46%, 13 of 49 from three, and got to the line just 10 times against 24 fouls committed. The glass went 37-64 against them. Whitehead led with 26 (11 of 21, 4 of 11 from three); Rupert added 21, Small 18. Q4 was theirs, 30-32, but the other 3 periods went 100-71 against them. Mashack's -32 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MEMDW D. Whitehead
JM J. Mashack
JS J. Small
LW L. Williamson
RR R. Rupert
TG T. Gibson
TO T. Okani
HOUAH A. Holiday
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
IC I. Crawford
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JT J. Tate
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
TN T. Newton
MEM/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Clint Capela has 23 as Rockets rest stars in 132-101 rout of Grizzlies
HOUSTON -- — Clint Capela had a season-high 23 points with 13 rebounds on Sunday night as Houston’s stars sat out in a 132-101 rout of the injury-plagued Memphis Grizzlies to end the regular season.
The Rockets went 4-0 against the Grizzlies this season for their first season sweep against them since 2009-10.
The Rockets played without starters Kevin Durant , Amen Thompson , Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. with the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoffs secured. They'll face the fourth-seeded Lakers in the first round.
Tari Eason , Reed Sheppard and Josh Okogie , who have all started at times this season, were in the starting lineup Sunday and played through the third quarter.
Sheppard had 19 points Sunday and is the only Rocket to play all 82 games this season. Eason added 20 points with eight assists and Jae’Sean Tate had 13 points.
Dariq Whitehead led Memphis with a career-high 26 points and Rayan Rupert added 21 as the Grizzlies capped a disappointing 25-57 season. The Grizzlies dressed just eight players and started Toby Okani and Whitehead, who both signed 10-day contracts on April 3.
Capela, a center in his 12th NBA season, made the first 3-pointer of his career early in the fourth quarter after missing the first seven attempts of his career, including his first try Sunday night. Capela raised his arms in celebration after hitting the shot and Houston’s bench stood and cheered.
Forty-year-old Taj Gibson had four points in 19 minutes for the Grizzlies and 39-year-old Jeff Green scored six points in 24 minutes for Houston. They are two of seven players 39 or older to have appeared in a game this season and Sunday was the 30th time they’ve faced each other in the regular season with the first meeting coming in 2010.
Up next The Rockets will begin the playoffs next weekend at the LA Lakers.