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Memphis Today
By the People, for the People
Durant leads Rockets to 119-109 win over Grizzlies
Kevin Durant scores 25 points and sparks fourth-quarter rally as Houston beats Memphis
Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:41am
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Kevin Durant scored 25 points and led a fourth-quarter surge as the Houston Rockets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 on Friday night. Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points and 16 rebounds, and Amen Thompson had 18 points for the Rockets, who ended a two-game skid. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored a career-high 31 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost 13 of their last 14 games.
Why it matters
The win keeps the Rockets in the hunt for a higher playoff seed in the Western Conference, as they are now just one game behind the fifth-place Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the struggling Grizzlies are hoping to improve their draft position as they deal with a rash of injuries late in the season.
The details
The Rockets led 56-49 at halftime, with Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun each scoring 10 points. The Grizzlies kept the game close through the third quarter, but Durant's 3-pointer sparked a 14-3 run in the fourth that gave Houston a comfortable lead. The Rockets' victory pulls them within one game of the Timberwolves for the fifth seed in the West.
- The game was played on Friday, March 28, 2026.
The players
Kevin Durant
A 13-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Durant led the Rockets' fourth-quarter surge with 25 points and 10 assists.
Jabari Smith Jr.
The second-year forward had 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
The Grizzlies' forward scored a career-high 31 points in the losing effort.
What they’re saying
“We knew we had to lock in defensively in the fourth quarter to pull this one out. Kevin really set the tone for us and got us going when we needed it most.”
— Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets forward
What’s next
The Rockets will look to continue their push for a higher playoff seed when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The struggling Grizzlies will host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night as they try to end their recent skid.
The takeaway
Durant's leadership and clutch performance in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference as the Rockets maintained their position in the Western Conference playoff race. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies' injury-plagued season continues to spiral, putting their postseason hopes in jeopardy.
