Rockets demolish the Memphis Grizzlies by 49

Posted: March 14, 2016 -- 10:38 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets never trailed Monday night in a 130-81 demolition of the injury-ravaged Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets led by 53 points in the game and never trailed. (The only tie in the game was 0-0 at the opening tip.)

"Any win is a good win -- especially in this league," Trevor Ariza said after the game. "It doesn't matter if you're short-handed or not. Every win is a good win; and, this is one that we needed."

Patrick Beverley began the scoring with a three-point bucket. Then, Trevor Ariza followed with a three-point basket. Beverley knocked down another three-point shot for a 9-2 lead; and, the rout had begun.

The Rockets (34-33) jumped to a 24-8 lead before the Grizzlies (39-28) displayed a faint pulse and outscored the Rockets 8-0 which forced JB Bickerstaff to call a quick timeout.

After the timeout, the Rockets outscored the Grizzlies 10-6 to finish the first quarter to lead 34-22 after the first 12 minutes.

The Rockets outscored the Grizzlies 12-8 the first 5 minutes of the second quarter - with James Harden resting on the bench. After Harden checked into the game, the Rockets went on a 17-5 run to blow the game open and lead 63-35 with 1:05 remaining in the first half.

 Houston led 65-41 at halftime.

The Rockets' lead grew to 46 points in the third quarter (97-51) after Jason Terry sank his 4th three-point shot of the game (4 for 4) with 1:05 left in the third period.

"The players' mindset has been great," said JB Bickerstaff, Rockets' interim-head coach after the game. "The focus has been great. The effort has been great. The togetherness, all of those things, have been great."

Houston's lead ballooned to 53 (122-69) in the fourth period as the Rockets' threatened to eclipse the franchise-record 52-point margin of victory set October 18, 1978).

Donatas Motiejunas scored a game-high 18 points (7 for 14 field goals) in 20 minutes and 35 seconds. Eight other Rockets' players scored in double-digits -- including 5 bench players. Jason Terry led the reserves with 12 points. Michael Beasley and Andrew Goudelock each scored 11 points.

"I'm definitely, definitely getting my legs back," Beasley said. "Definitely getting my feel for the game. These guys are definitely making it easy for me. Putting me in spots where I can be effective and help the team."

Twelve Rockets played. Nine scored in double-digits. The Rockets' bench combined for 64 points tonight. Over the past four games, the Rockets' reserves are averaging 51.8 points per game (after averaging 23.8 points per game the 11 previous games).

The Rockets held the Grizzlies to an opponents' season-low 81 points tonight. The Rockets have held their opponents below 100 points in three of their past seven games (after doing so just twice in their previous 18 games).

With the win tonight, the Rockets split the season series against the Grizzlies 2-2.

"We've got to take advantage of this week," James Harden said. "We got a great opportunity: we've got the Clippers coming in on Wednesday; so, another Western Conference tough opponent; and, we've got to be ready to go."

The Rockets host the Clippers Wednesday night in an 8:30 p.m. start.

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