On Sunday night the Houston Rockets will host the Memphis Grizzlies in game that many will likely forget after it’s done. The 51-30 Rockets are preparing for the playoffs and are sitting almost their entire starting lineup from their previous game, which was a 136-132 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since the Rockets lost the season series against the Los Angeles Lakers — who sit one game ahead of them in the Western Conference standings — and are three games ahead of the T-Wolves, they have nothing at stake on Sunday except a better final record. The Grizzlies arguably have even less on the line, as they were eliminated from playoff contention long ago.
Records, standing, and streaks
Right now the Rockets are 51-30 overall and 8-2 in their last 10 contests. They sit in fifth place in the West and will finish the regular season there.
As for the Grizzlies, they’re a rough 25-56 and have lost seven games in a row. They (and they’re fans) are certainly ready for an injury-riddled season to end.
What happened in the last game for each team?
Houston had an eight-game winning streak snapped by Minnesota on Friday night at the Toyota Center.
Meanwhile, Memphis was embarrassed in Salt Lake City on Friday. The Grizzlies were blown out 147-101 by the lowly Utah Jazz, who are also far from contention.
Injuries
For Houston, Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson are all out due to rest. Steven Adams (left ankle) and Fred VanVleet (ACL repair) are out as well and won’t return this season.
For Memphis, essentially the whole team is out. Ja Morant (left elbow), Jaylen Wells (right great toe), Scotty Pippen Jr. (right great toe), Ty Jerome (left ankle), GG Jackson (left knee), Taylor Hendricks (right thumb), Zach Edey (left ankle and elbow), Cedric Coward (low back), Brandon Clarke (right calf), Santi Aldama (right knee), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger surgery recovery) are all out. Adama Bal (right ankle), Walter Clayton Jr. (left hip), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right ankle) are currently questionable. Jahmai Mashack (nasal fracture) was upgraded to available.
Probable starting lineups – Houston
Probable starting lineups – Memphis
Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (4/12)
Reporting by Daniel Donabedian, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
