Game ID: 22501069
Houston Rockets @ Memphis Grizzlies
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MEM 30 19 33 27 109HOU 32 24 31 32 119
HOU @ MEM ScoutingHOU @ 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.
MEM availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Clarke missed 38 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 23 min since (92% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 26 min since (120% of 22)
NEW Mashack 22 to 27 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Rupert missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Mashack missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 39 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 26 min since (120% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Rupert missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 30 min (97% of 31)
OUT Coward missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Mashack missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 40 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 25 min since (115% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Coward missed 3 since 3/20, returns tonight: 27 min (104% of 26)
OUT Mashack missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 41 since 12/22, not on tonight's roster
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 25 min since (98% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 27 min since (124% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 26 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Mashack missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 27 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 27 min since (127% of 22)
NEW Small 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 19 to 26 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Rupert missed 2 since 3/25, returns tonight: 30 min (98% of 31)
OUT Wells missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Jerome missed 2 since 3/25, not on tonight's roster
OUT Mashack missed 6 since 3/18, returns tonight: 30 min (138% of 22)
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 26 min since (101% of 26)
NEW Jackson 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Small 20 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 19 to 27 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Wells missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 25 min since (99% of 26)
BACK Mashack back 3/28 after 6, 30 min since (138% of 22)
NEW Jackson 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 19 to 24 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Wells missed 4 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 25 min since (97% of 26)
BACK Mashack back 3/28 after 6, 34 min since (155% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 24 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Rupert missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 25 min (80% of 31)
OUT Wells missed 5 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 26 min since (100% of 26)
BACK Mashack back 3/28 after 6, 30 min since (140% of 22)
HOU availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (120% of 14)
OUT Newton missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Newton missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 15 min since (109% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 17 min since (125% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (116% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (115% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 9 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/01 · back-to-backOUT Finney-Smith missed 3 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 10 since 3/13, out tonight
HOU availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 4 since 3/27, returns tonight: 9 min (56% of 16)
OUT Newton missed 11 since 3/13, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Mashack (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Memphis's 126. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/20 vs BOS 112-117 — MEM notes
MEM lost 112-117. MEM shot 47% (42 of 90) to BOS's 45%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to BOS's 30. The glass went 35-57 against them. Burton led with 23 (7 of 13, 5 of 9 from three); Jerome added 16, Prosper 14. Q3 was theirs, 34-29, turning a 1-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 88-78 against them. Clayton Jr.'s -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ CHA 101-124 — MEM notes
MEM lost 101-124. MEM shot 41% (35 of 86) to CHA's 53%, 16 of 46 from three. The glass went 34-49 against them. Jackson led with 19 (7 of 14, 0 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Small added 17, Hendricks 14. Q4 was theirs, 26-27, but the other 3 periods went 97-75 against them. Prosper's -21 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 @ ATL 107-146 — MEM notes
MEM lost 107-146. MEM shot 42% (35 of 83) to ATL's 53%, 14 of 43 from three. MEM turned it over 21 times to ATL's 11, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 34-44 against them. Jackson led with 26 (9 of 14, 2 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Burton added 20, Jerome 17. Q4 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 41 to 39, but the other 3 periods went 116-75 against them. Clayton Jr.'s -37 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs SAS 98-123 — MEM notes
MEM lost 98-123. MEM shot 40% (34 of 86) to SAS's 52%, 16 of 50 from three. The glass went 33-59 against them. Jackson led with 20 (7 of 15, 3 of 7 from three); Prosper added 17, Jarreau 15. Q4 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 34 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 98-64 against them. Hendricks's -33 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 vs HOU 109-119 — MEM notes
MEM lost 109-119. MEM shot 44% (40 of 91) to HOU's 47%, 13 of 37 from three, and got to the line 18 times to HOU's 26. The glass went 39-57 against them. Prosper led with 31 (12 of 15, 4 of 5 from three); Jackson added 14, Small 14. Q3 was theirs, 33-31, the deficit cut from 7 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 88-76 against them. Spencer's -16 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 126, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Prosper at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 18 a night. Without Rupert (2 straight), Wells (2 straight), Jerome (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 133, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Buzelis at 18 and Sexton at 17 a game. Without Simons (16 straight), Collins (42 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been minus-4 a night and Memphis minus-18 and the defense, Memphis allowing 126 a night to Chicago's 133. Call it Memphis 120, Chicago 119, Chicago keeping it close.
3/30 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 127, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson at 18 and Prosper at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 17 a night. Without Wells (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Booker at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks (17 straight), Williams (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Memphis minus-17 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 127. Call it Phoenix 118, Memphis 112.
4/01 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Prosper at 17 and Jackson at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 17 a night. Without Wells (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Shamet (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-17 and the defense, New York allowing 113 a night to Memphis's 129. Call it New York 117, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
4/03 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Prosper at 19 and Jackson at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 21 a night. Without Rupert (2 straight), Wells (5 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 20 and Ingram at 18 a game. Without Quickley (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been minus-1 a night and Memphis minus-21 and the defense, Toronto allowing 112 a night to Memphis's 125. Call it Toronto 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/20 vs ATL 117-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-95. HOU shot 51% (42 of 83) to ATL's 42%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ATL's 17 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 51-37 for them. Durant led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 23, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q3, 39-22: a lead of 8 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/21 vs MIA 123-122 — HOU notes
HOU won 123-122. HOU shot 52% (45 of 86) to MIA's 51%, 16 of 35 from three. Durant led with 27 (9 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 24, Sheppard 23. The hinge was Q4, 36-26: HOU came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/23 @ CHI 124-132 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-132. HOU shot 53% (49 of 92) to CHI's 50%, 11 of 41 from three. Durant led with 40 (15 of 23, 5 of 10 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Sengun added 33, Thompson 23. Q3 was theirs, 39-30, the deficit cut from 17 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 102-85 against them. Durant's -18 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 @ MIN 108-110 — HOU notes
HOU lost 108-110 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 41% (38 of 93) to MIN's 42%, 9 of 29 from three, and went to the line 25 times to MIN's 10 — 23 points from the stripe to their 7. HOU turned it over 20 times to MIN's 15, and MIN turned those into 11 steals. Durant led with 30 (9 of 22, 2 of 5 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Sengun added 30, Smith Jr. 16. Q2 was theirs, 24-21, the deficit cut from 4 to 1, but the other 4 periods went 89-84 against them. They led by as many as 13.
3/27 @ MEM 119-109 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-109. HOU shot 47% (44 of 93) to MEM's 44%, 12 of 33 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MEM's 18 — 19 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 57-39 for them. Durant led with 25 (8 of 14, 3 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Smith Jr. added 21, Thompson 18. The hinge was Q2, 24-19: a lead of 2 became 7. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/29 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Bey at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), McGowens (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it Houston 116, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/31 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Shamet (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and New York plus-4 and the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Houston's 36. Call it Houston 115, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
4/01 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Finney-Smith (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Rollins at 21 and Trent Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (7 straight), Portis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Milwaukee's 122. Call it Houston 119, Milwaukee 108, Houston by 11.
4/03 vs UTA — 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 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Finney-Smith (4 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 131, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Filipowski at 24 and Sensabaugh at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Collier (8 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight), Harkless (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Utah minus-12 and the defense, Houston allowing 106 a night to Utah's 131. Call it Houston 123, Utah 111, Houston by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MEMCC C. Coward
CS C. Spencer
DJ D. Jarreau
GJ G. Jackson
JS J. Small
OP O. Prosper
TB T. Burton
TG T. Gibson
TH T. Hendricks
WC W. Clayton Jr.
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
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
Durant scored 25 points and leads fourth-quarter push as Rockets beat Grizzlies 119-109
Memphis, Tenn. -- — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and led a fourth-quarter rally as the Houston Rockets pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies with a 119-109 victory Friday night.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points and 16 rebounds and Amen Thompson had 18 points as Houston ended a two-game slide. Durant also had 10 assists.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Grizzlies with a career-high 31 points and had seven rebounds. GG Jackson and Javon Small each added 14 points as Memphis lost its fifth straight and 13th in its last 14.
The Grizzlies were trailing 96-93 near the 7-minute mark of the fourth when Durant returned and made a 3-pointer. That kickstarted a 14-3 run through the middle stages of the frame that grew the Rockets' lead to 110-96.
The Rockets, who are in sixth place in the Western Conference, are closer to Minnesota in the fifth spot than they are in danger of falling into a play-in game. With the win, Houston pulled within a game of the idle Timberwolves and four games games ahead of Phoenix for seventh.
Memphis, which has dealt with several injuries, is limping to the end of the regular season, hoping to enhance its position in the draft lottery. Ten Grizzlies were on the injured list against Houston.
The Rockets led 56-49 at the break as Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengun had 10 points each. Jackson and Small had 12 points apiece to lead Memphis. The game remained within one possession near the midway point of the third. At that point, the Rockets stretched their advantage to double digits before carrying a 87-82 advantage into the fourth.
Up next Rockets: Close out a four-game road trip at New Orleans on Sunday.