RealGM

The Houston Rockets had an ugly performance in the opener of a back-to-back, and a matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies may not be much prettier.

The owners of the NBA's best records and two of the best defensive teams will have their highly anticipated first showdown Monday night in Memphis, where the Grizzlies have won 19 consecutive regular-season games.

With a 69-65 win at Oklahoma City on Sunday, Houston (9-1) became the first team in 10 seasons to score fewer than 70 points in a victory. The Rockets also became the first to shoot 28.8 percent in a win since Chicago connected at 28.6 percent against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 19, 2000.

"That game will not go in the NBA Hall of Fame," coach Kevin McHale said.

Houston held the Thunder to 29.4 percent shooting while improving to 6-0 away from home and earning a third consecutive overall victory. The Rockets are allowing league lows of 88.9 points per game and 40.3 percent shooting.

They gave up an average of 103.1 points last season and that difference has allowed Houston to thrive despite a drop-off in scoring. The Rockets are averaging 98.3 points after finishing second a year ago with 107.7 per game, and they had to rely largely on their defense for an 88-87 victory over winless Philadelphia on Friday.

The Grizzlies (9-1), though, have also proved formidable at slowing down opponents, yielding 91.3 points per game.

"Same kind of game, probably," Rockets guard James Harden said, comparing a matchup with Memphis to Sunday's contest. "A slow, grinding game, and we just need to rebuild our mental toughness, so it's going to be another great challenge for us."

Memphis shot 37.2 percent in a 95-88 victory over visiting Detroit on Saturday, its seventh game decided by seven points or fewer and fifth in a row. Four of the five games in Memphis, where the Grizzlies haven't lost in the regular season since Feb. 5, have been decided by seven or less.

"It's 'the Grindhouse.' We've got the fans behind us. It's loud in here. They bring a lot of energy," forward Zach Randolph said.

Marc Gasol had 23 points Saturday -- his most since a career-best 32 in the season opener against Minnesota on Oct. 29. Randolph collected a season-high 22 rebounds and scored 17 despite missing 15 of 22 shots.

Randolph had 17 rebounds in a pair of games against Houston last season.

The Rockets took the first two games in the 2013-14 series with Memphis before dropping the final two.

The Grizzlies have proved highly adept at limiting Rockets star Dwight Howard, who has averaged 8.0 points on 38.9 percent shooting and 7.6 rebounds in his last seven meetings.

Harden, who missed 12 of 17 shots Sunday, averaged 17.7 points and 30.3 percent shooting in three matchups with Memphis last season -- his worst marks against any Western Conference team.

Gasol totaled 15 points and 12 rebounds in two games versus Houston last season after missing the first two because of a knee injury. Lee, who played for the Rockets from 2010-12, averaged 17.0 points on 61.1 percent shooting (11 of 18) in his two starts against his former team with Memphis.

Houston, which earned a 113-101 victory in Mexico City on Wednesday, is off to its best road start since winning its first eight games away from home in 1996-97.

Mr. E wrote:If Canaan doesn't play again tonight then I may have to buy into the theory that he might be part of some trade discussions with Brewer.

Guy986 wrote:They should pull a Pop and rest Harden/Howard/Ariza/Bev.