Houston @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2017 ) Memphis 96, Houston 111

Any questions about how Houston would mesh with Chris Paul upon his return from a knee injury were answered in emphatic fashion when the Rockets scored 90 points in the first half en route to a 142-116 triumph at Phoenix on Wednesday. Paul and the Rockets will get a stiffer defensive test on Saturday, when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 90-point half set a franchise record for Houston, which was glad to welcome Paul back after he went down in the season opener. "I don't know if he can get any better than that, but if he does, it'll be scary," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters when asked if Paul looked rusty in his first game back. "You forget how good he is. He was hurt the last exhibition game and then the first game of the season, and you kind of forget how good the guy is. It's nice to get him back." The Grizzlies are historically a strong defensive team but are slipping a bit of late and allowed an average of 112.3 points while dropping the last three games. "Our defense is plummeting because of our lack of focus and lack of effort, for whatever reason," Memphis coach David Fizdale told reporters after a 116-113 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. "So, that’s on me. I’ve got to help them out and we’ve got to get back in here (Thursday) and the next day and get to work."

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

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (12-4): Paul collected 11 points and 10 assists in 21 minutes on Wednesday while Harden, who leads the NBA in scoring (31.8) and assists (10.1), delivered 48 points and seven assists. "James knows that every night he's not going to have 48 and stuff like that, but we just try to play the right way, make the right plays and move the ball," Paul told reporters. "It's fun. It's fun playing like that because of the energy with our team. We know it's not going to be easy like this night in and night out, but we talk, we communicate and that's what helps." Harden is averaging 40.2 points over the last six contests and is 42-of-42 from the free-throw line in the last three.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (7-7): While Houston enjoys a glut of star point guards in Paul and Harden, Memphis figures to be without its own star guard for the foreseeable future. Mike Conley, who is averaging 17.1 points but shooting a career-low 38.1 percent from the floor, is being shut down indefinitely due to soreness in his left Achilles. "Obviously, we're feeling more for him," Fizdale told reporters. "It's been a frustrating process. He did so much work this summer to get ready for this year to play the style of play after a year under his belt of knowing how I wanted to play, and for whatever reason this thing isn't going away on its own."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Grizzlies PG Mario Chalmers is expected to start in Conley's place.

2. Rockets SG Eric Gordon is 4-of-25 from 3-point range over the last three games.

3. Houston earned a 111-96 home win over Memphis last Saturday behind 38 points from Harden.

PREDICTION: Rockets 113, Grizzlies 101