• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Grizzlies edge Rockets

Jan 25, 2014 - 4:55 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Chandler Parsons set an NBA record for 3- pointers in a half, but it wasn't enough as the Houston Rockets stumbled late and fell to the Memphis Grizzlies, 88-87, from Toyota Center.

Parsons notched 30 of his career-high 34 points in the second half, including 10 straight 3-pointers before missing his last two shots down the stretch. Parsons also passed up the final look, opting to swing the ball to a well- covered Patrick Beverley, whose last second triple fell well short as the buzzer sounded.

"Chandler was hot so we tried getting him the ball on a little action with the pick and roll with Dwight (Howard)," said Houston head coach Kevin McHale. "They put two on the ball and we didn't fill behind."

Courtney Lee needed just nine shots for 19 points to pace the Grizzlies, winners in six of seven. Zach Randolph and Mike Conley contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively, in the triumph.

"Mike had a great game, Courtney had a great game, and James (Johnson) had a great game," praised Randolph. "It was a team win."

James Harden shot just 2-of-11 from the floor but handed out a career-best 13 assists in the setback.

Memphis controlled tempo for the early stages of the contest and led 41-28 late in the first half after a Conley 3-pointer. Houston scored seven points in the final 1:12 of the period but still trailed 44-35 at halftime.

Howard, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds, threw down an alley-oop on the first possession of the second half. Parsons then potted consecutive 3s to give Houston its first lead of the game less than two minutes into the third.

Parsons went on to sink all six of his shots -- all from behind the arc -- in the period. His stepback with 37.9 ticks remaining tied it at 64-apiece heading into the final frame.

"I was pretty much unconscious," said Parsons. "My body went numb. I've never felt that feeling on the basketball court before."

Parsons' 3-ball put the Rockets up 69-66, but Randolph's layup at 8:08 capped a 10-2 Memphis surge to pull back in front.

It was 88-84 with two minutes to play when Parsons canned his 10th triple for a one-point deficit. Both teams went cold the rest of the way, with Parsons missing a pair of shots and Beverly and Howard each missing layups.

Mike Miller was whistled for a charge on Memphis' final touch with 8.3 seconds to play. Out of a timeout, Parsons handled at the top of the key but was guarded closely and couldn't get off a shot. He swung to Beverley on the right corner, and his final try never had a chance.

Game Notes

Memphis outscored Houston 48-30 in the paint and outrebounded the Rockets 42-31 ... Parsons tied Kenny Smith's franchise record for consecutive 3- pointers with 10 ... Beverley shot 1-of-11 ... Both teams had 21 assists.