Rockets lose to Grizzlies, 102-100

Posted: March 4, 2015 -- 11:25 pm.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Marc Gasol's basket with 0.1 seconds left gave the Memphis Grizzlies a 102-100 win over the Houston Rockets; however, the seconds before Gasol's game-winner have many people questioning the vision of the three NBA referees who didn't call a foul against Memphis' Zach Randolph when James Harden was driving to the basket.

"End of the game, everybody is watching the guy who has the ball," James Harden said. "I drove to the basket. I got grabbed on my arms and nothing was called."

"They didn't call the foul," said a frustrated Kevin McHale.

The game was tightly contested through three quarters. The Rockets (41-20) led the Grizzlies (43-17) 59-54 at halftime; but, the Grizzlies made an adjustment at halftime and decided to get the ball to Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the second half.

"High low with our bigs and they started making some shots," Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger said after the game.

Randolph and Gasol combined to score the Grizzlies' first 17 points in the third quarter and put the Grizzlies ahead 71-65 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

The Rockets battled back and tied the game at 75. The game was tied at 79 at the end of the third quarter.

Randolph scored the first four points of the fourth quarter; and, as the Rockets struggled to make a basket, Memphis increased its lead to 89-79 before Josh Smith sank a three-point shot to end the Rockets' scoreless drought.

Undeterred, the Grizzlies outscored the Rockets 7-2 over the next 2 minutes and seven seconds for a 96-84 lead with 5:31 remaining in the game.

Trailing by 12, Kevin McHale decided to have James Harden guard Randolph which forced the Rockets' small-ball line-up of Ariza, Beverley, Brewer, Harden, Brewer, and Jones to scramble and be much more active on defense.

The line-up worked. The Grizzlies struggled to score points; and, Terrence Jones used his quickness to score five points in a 7-0 Rockets' run. After Mike Conley scored a runner in the paint, Jones knocked down a jump and Brewer followed with a three-point basket  to bring the Rockets within two (98-96).

Harden tied the game at 98 with a step-back jump shot. Courtney Lee sank 2 free throws to give the Grizzlies a 100-98 lead; but, with 55.9 seconds remaining, Jones tied the game at 100 with a 4-foot jump hook.

Gasol missed a 21-foot shot; and, Beverley rebounded the miss to set the stage for Harden's drive to the bucket -- and the no call.

"I don't know what to say. It's frustrating. It's frustrating. To fight so hard just to come back and you have an opportunity to win the game, it's just frustrating.”

Memphis called a time-out with 5.4 seconds on the clock. Gasol retrieved the inbounds pass; dribbled right; and drained the jump shot with 0.1 second left.

"The play was designed for the other side the strong side of the court;" Gasol said. "But, the pass led me to the right side. I caught it and tried to drive and created a little space with my body and was fortunate to make the shot."

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