Referee Robbery: Houston Rockets Fall To Grizzlies 102-100

What a heart breaker that the Houston Rockets had last night!

The team played 36 minutes of solid basketball and then the final 12 were less than what was desired.

The Rockets should’ve and deserved to win that game despite the circumstances of the bad calls by the refs.

You can’t always depend on the refs to get the calls right so it’s up to the team to overcome that to win by true grit and perseverance.

It was just tough to see things unravel right in front of my eyes when things started to go south after the Rockets led since early in the 1st quarter.

The Hawks went on a 15-0 at the midpoint of the 4th to not only take the lead but the momentum as well.

Although they tied up the game several times, it just wasn’t enough to overcome and the Rockets found themselves on the short end of the stick.

I don’t care they didn’t have James Harden last night, the painful reality is that they could’ve beat them without him.

But let’s fast-forward to about 24 hours later…

Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Terrence Jones

(6) reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Toyota Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Rockets 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Rockets had a game tonight, facing the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that’s only 1.5 games ahead of the Rockets in the West standings.

Two tough teams back-to-back…

But this time, instead viewing the Rockets as being lethargic from the night before, one should view the Rockets as a team that has been rejuvenated with the presence of the Beard.

And it definitely made a difference…

The 1st quarter pretty much was carried out like last night — close at the beginning but the Rockets hit their stride, went on a run and took a lead.

Their largest lead of the quarter was 10 points after going up 27-17 off a Donatas Motiejunas jump hook with 3:48 left.

This was the completion of a 11-4 run as the Rockets shooting continued to sizzle.

The Rockets stayed in front the rest of the way to lead 31-24 at the end of the 1st.

The 2nd quarter had the Grizzlies chiseling away at their deficit to cut it within three points after a Tony Allen reverse layup with nine minutes left. Rockets 35, Grizzlies 32

But Jason Terry hit a three-pointer to put the Rockets back up by six leading 38-32.

The Grizz would continue to knock on their door but the Rockets would find a way to slam it shut as the things winded down in the 2nd quarter.

Josh Smith, who had been suffering from flu-like symptoms, hit a big three at the buzzer off a Harden’s ninth assist of the game. Halftime Score: Rockets 59, Grizzlies 54

Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward

Zach Randolph

(50) shoots the ball during the third quarter as Houston Rockets forward

Josh Smith

(5) defends at Toyota Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Rockets 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Most players would sit out when they have any inkling of the virus but it goes to show how much he loves the game and how vested he wants to be in the team’s success.

After the start of the 2nd half, the Rockets came out shooting quite flat which allowed the Grizzlies to get back in the game scoring six unanswered points.

They took their first lead in quite some time at the 10:42 mark off a Zach Randolph layup. Grizzlies 60, Rockets 59

Randolph and Marc Gasol worked to put themselves up a bit leading 71-65 with 6:14 left.

J-Smoove wasn’t having it.

He made a key offensive rebound off a D-Mo miss, hooked the ball back in the hoop and made a runner that banked in on the next possession.

This cut the Rockets deficit back to two. Grizzlies 71, Rockets 69

Harden and Terry hit two key threes to allow the Rockets to take a 75-73 lead to get back in front again.

Smith continued to make his presence known by scoring the last points of the quarter tying the game at 79-all at the end of the third.

At the start of the 4th quarter, the Grizzlies jutted out to a 10-0 run, attacking the paint and leading the Rockets 89-79 with 9:06 left.

When Tony Allen started to flex his muscle after the put back that elevated the Grizzlies up by 10, the Rockets went to work.

J-Smoove hit a three-pointer to cut their deficit to seven but it wasn’t until when Corey Brewer strong-armed his way in to the paint for two where the Rockets started going on a tear.

Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center

Marc Gasol

(33) controls the ball during the second quarter as Houston Rockets forward

Terrence Jones

(6) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Terrence Jones went to work, scoring seven of his 19 points down the stretch.

The Rockets were finally able to tie the score at 98-all after the completion of a 12-2 run off a calm and crisp Beard step back!

Brewer fouled Courtney Lee on the next possession as he was in the act shooting allowing him to connect both penalty free throws. Grizzlies 100, Rockets 98

Then TJones came up big once again when the Rox got the ball back — he missed his first hook attempt, got his own offensive rebound and made on the second attempt to tie the game back at 100-all with 55.9 seconds left.

And here’s where the unthinkable happened…

Harden, who had the ball in his hands as the clock was ticking away, drove toward the basket as Randolph hit him across the arm.

But what happened?

No whistle!

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Randolph was credited with a block and the Grizzlies had the ball back with 5.4 seconds left.

What a travesty — how does one miss a call that a blind man could see?!?

After a timeout called by the Grizz, the ball fell into Gasol’s hands as he hit an extremely tough running jumper that was nothing but net with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

TJones was the defender and was a bit delayed getting to him but put the best possible clamps on him in his quick recovery.

And there you have it.

A game that should’ve not ended this way — the refs didn’t even bother to review that horrible call either. I thought that’s what instant replay was all about!

But any way, this was a tough loss to stomach but it’s on to the next one.

TJones led all Rockets scorers with 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Beard in his first game back from his one-game suspension, had 18 points and doled out the dimes with 13 assists.

J-Smoove had 16 points, eight boards despite him being under the weather.

Gasol led the Grizzlies with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists including the game-winner tonight.

Referee Robbery: Houston Rockets Fall To Memphis Grizzlies 102-100

By Brian K. Patterson | Mar 4, 2015

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