Rockets close strong in fourth quarter to beat short-handed Grizzlies 108-99 in Houston Monday

Game overview

The Houston Rockets used a decisive fourth-quarter push to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 108-99 on Monday night, Jan. 26, 2026, at Toyota Center in Houston. Memphis carried a narrow 54-51 lead into halftime and maintained control for much of the third quarter, but Houston’s 32-point final period flipped the game and sealed the result.

How the game turned

The Grizzlies led by as many as 10 points late in the third quarter before Houston closed the period on a run that cut the margin to one entering the fourth. Houston then opened the final quarter by taking the lead and steadily extended it, holding Memphis to 22 points in the period while scoring 32.

Key performers

Houston received 33 points from Alperen Şengün, who added nine rebounds and six assists, and 33 points from Kevin Durant. The Rockets also got 17 points from Tari Eason. Amen Thompson finished with 14 assists and eight rebounds.

Memphis was led in scoring by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama with 17 points apiece. The Grizzlies faced major availability constraints, with Ja Morant among those not playing.

Team statistics that shaped the outcome

• Memphis shot 39-for-105 from the field (37.1%) and 7-for-37 from three-point range.

• Houston closed the game with a stronger offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, producing a nine-point advantage over the final 12 minutes.

• Memphis held a rebounding edge (52 total rebounds) and generated 21 offensive boards, but the Rockets limited the efficiency of those extra chances in the second half.

What it means going forward

The result continued Houston’s strong home form, improving the Rockets to 28-16 overall and 16-3 at Toyota Center. Memphis fell to 18-26, reflecting the difficulty of sustaining offense amid rotation disruptions and a low-percentage shooting night.

Final score: Houston Rockets 108, Memphis Grizzlies 99.