Houston Rockets Surge Late to Topple Grizzlies Behind Sengun and Durant Masterclass 108-99

There is a specific kind of tension that settles over an arena when a game turns into a dogfight. On Monday night, the Houston Rockets found themselves in exactly that kind of scrap. Against a gritty, undermanned Memphis Grizzlies squad, the Rockets spent three quarters searching for a rhythm that refused to settle.

But great teams—and this iteration of the Houston Rockets is proving to be just that—know that basketball is a 48-minute negotiation. And when the fourth quarter arrived, Houston finally slammed the gavel.

Behind a combined 66 points from the devastating tandem of Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant, the Rockets erased a fourth-quarter deficit to grind out a 108-99 victory. It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but it was the kind of win that builds the callous needed for a deep playoff run.

Houston Rockets Find Their Rhythm in Crunch Time

For the first 36 minutes, the rim looked to be shrinking for the home team. The Rockets entered the final frame trailing 77-76, struggling to shake a Memphis team playing without Ja Morant. The air in the building was thick with anxiety.

Then, the switch flipped.

Houston opened the fourth quarter with a blistering 21-9 run in the first seven minutes, transforming a one-point deficit into a command they wouldn’t relinquish. The energy shifted palpably on the defensive end, fueling transition opportunities that the Grizzlies simply couldn’t match. It was a masterclass in closing, a reminder of why the Rockets sit comfortably at 28-16. They didn’t panic; they simply executed when the lights got brightest.

The Dynamic Duo: Sengun and Durant Power the Houston Rockets

If you need evidence of how dangerous the Houston Rockets’ offense can be, look no further than the box score. Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant were nothing short of spectacular, each dropping 33 points in a display of inside-out dominance that Memphis had no answer for.

Sengun, operating with the surgical precision that has become his trademark, was a nightmare in the paint. He finished 15-of-17 from the field—a staggering level of efficiency—while pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out six assists. In the first half alone, he was perfect, going 7-for-7. He wasn’t just scoring; he was orchestrating, reading the defense and finding cutters with an intuition that belies his years.

Then there was Durant. The veteran superstar provided the steadying hand, hitting big shot after big shot to keep the offense afloat when the secondary scoring dried up. His 33 points came with eight rebounds and the kind of gravity that warps defenses, opening up the floor for Sengun to work his magic inside. When you have two scorers of this caliber operating in sync, the Houston Rockets become nearly impossible to guard.

Unsung Heroes Step Up for the Houston Rockets

While the stars will grab the headlines, the fingerprints of the supporting cast were all over this win. Tari Eason provided a massive spark off the bench, pouring in 17 points—including 11 in a crucial first-half stretch that kept the Rockets afloat when shots weren’t falling. His energy was infectious, attacking the glass and disrupting passing lanes.

Perhaps even more impressive was the playmaking display from Amen Thompson. While he only scored eight points, Thompson controlled the flow of the game, dishing out a career-high 14 assists. He played a team-high 41 minutes, acting as the connector that linked the brilliance of Sengun and Durant. On a night where sophomore Reed Sheppard struggled to find his shot (going 2-for-11), Thompson’s maturity and vision were the stabilizers the second unit desperately needed.

Weathering the Memphis Storm

Credit must be given to the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama (17 points each) made life difficult for Houston, muddying the game and refusing to go away.

But in the end, talent and execution won out. The Houston Rockets weathered the shooting slumps, absorbed the Grizzlies’ best punch, and delivered a knockout blow in the fourth. It was their fifth win in six games—a clear signal that this team is hitting its stride at the perfect time.

As they prepare to host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, the Rockets can take solace in the fact that they don’t always have to play perfect basketball to win. They just have to be the best team for the 12 minutes that matter most.