Houston @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2019 ) Houston 125, Memphis 126

The Houston Rockets seemed to have emptied the tank in the opener of their current four-game road trip when they won the NBA's highest-scoring one-point contest in history. They've since lost two straight and will try to recover from an embarrassing effort when they conclude the trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

Houston followed up its 159-158 win at Washington with a seven-point loss at Brooklyn and then offered up little resistance at Miami on Sunday, falling behind by 32 points after just one quarter en route to 129-100 setback. "We're not in trouble, but if we think we're not in trouble, we're in trouble," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters in Miami. The Grizzlies have lost two in a row, including a 114-105 setback to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in the opener of a three-game homestand. Rookie guard Ja Morant scored 24 points and handed out seven assists for Memphis, which turned the ball over 20 times in falling to 1-2 at home.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Southeast (Memphis)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (3-3): The one positive from Sunday's lopsided loss was the fact that Houston could sit its superstars early, as both James Harden and Russell Westbrook played just 26 minutes. Harden made the most of his limited time with 29 points while Westbrook was held to a season-low 10 while posting an incredible minus-46 rating. Harden scored 57 points in each of the final two matchups with the Grizzlies last season and averaged 47.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the four meetings.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (1-4): Memphis gave up 69 points in the second half of Saturday's loss, four nights after allowing 71 following halftime versus the Los Angeles Lakers. "Up (at) halftime, we've faced this before where teams pick up their energy," coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters Saturday. "I didn't feel our energy was there in the third quarter." Guard Grayson Allen will not play Monday due to an ankle injury suffered against Phoenix and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) is considered doubtful.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies rookie PF Brandon Clarke notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds Saturday.

2. Rockets SG Ben McLemore is 6-for-13 from 3-point range over his last three games.

3. Houston won the first three matchups last season before Memphis took the finale in overtime.

PREDICTION: Rockets 113, Grizzlies 111