The Rockets (25-18) came into the contest even more short-handed than they've recently been, as they found out earlier Monday that Clint Capela will miss multiple weeks with a thumb injury. When also factoring in the absences of Chris Paul (hamstring) and Eric Gordon (knee), it seemed like James Harden was the last man standing for Houston going into the game. He offered a performance befitting such a designation, lighting up the Grizzlies (19-24) for 36 points in a first half in which he helped the Rockets overcome a 29-24 first-quarter deficit. Harden finished with 57 points overall, adding nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. The home squad turned the game around in the middle periods, as they outscored Memphis by a 63-41 margin over the second and third quarters.

Mike Conley and Garrett Temple paced the Grizzlies with matching 14-point tallies. Conley added seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal, while Temple finished with three boards and three assists. Jaren Jackson, Jr. mustered 12 points, six rebounds, one assist and three blocks. Omri Casspi matched Jackson's scoring total off the bench and added three boards, two steals and one block. Shelvin Mack produced 10 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Rookie Jevon Carter drew the start for Kyle Anderson (ankle) and managed eight points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.

Danuel House, Jr. was a distant second to Harden, producing 15 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Gerald Green followed with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Austin Rivers supplied 11 points, six assists and three steals. Gary Clark offered eight points, three points, one steal and one block.

The Grizzlies next pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, while the Rockets remain home and tangle with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday evening as well.