Durant, Smith Jr. Lead Rockets Past Grizzlies

Houston snaps two-game skid, maintains playoff position

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:25am

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Kevin Durant scored 25 points and dished out 10 assists, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 119-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets never trailed in the final three quarters and held off a late Grizzlies comeback attempt to snap a two-game losing streak.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Rockets in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, four games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for the final guaranteed playoff spot. Houston is looking to secure its postseason berth, while the struggling Grizzlies continue to play without several key injured players.

The details

The Rockets used a 14-2 run late in the first quarter to take the lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 11 points in the third quarter. Memphis got as close as three points in the fourth, but Houston pulled away behind nine fourth-quarter points from Smith Jr. Durant scored 11 of his 25 points in the third quarter to help the Rockets maintain their advantage.

  • The Rockets led 56-49 at halftime.
  • Houston never trailed in the final three quarters.

The players

Kevin Durant

A star forward for the Houston Rockets who scored 25 points and dished out 10 assists in the win.

Jabari Smith Jr.

A young forward for the Houston Rockets who contributed 21 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper

A Grizzlies player who scored a career-high 31 points in the losing effort.

Amen Thompson

A Rockets player who scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Tari Eason

A Rockets player who came off the bench to score 16 points and grab 7 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with this kind of energy and effort if we want to secure our playoff spot. This was a big win for us.”

— Kevin Durant, Rockets Forward

What’s next

The Rockets will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the playoffs, while the Grizzlies will try to end their losing skid when they return home to face the Suns on Sunday.

The takeaway

This victory keeps the Rockets in a strong position to clinch a playoff berth, with Durant and Smith Jr. leading the way. Meanwhile, the injury-plagued Grizzlies are struggling to find consistency as their season winds down.