Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies extend winning streaks on record setting night

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#Wall #Morant

After the Utah Jazz's 11-game win streak came to an end earlier this week, the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies owned the two best win streaks in the league, with both teams continuing their impressive runs. 

The Grizzlies made it seven wins in a row with a convincing 133-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs, while the Rockets extended their run to six games, turning in a record-setting performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a 136-106 victory.

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Let's take a closer look:

Rockets unleash from 3-point range

Through 19 games, the Houston Rockets sit at 10-9, good for ninth in the Western Conference. The new-look squad appears to have found their rhythm reeling off six consecutive wins, setting NBA records along the way. 

In today's victory over the Thunder, they made their intentions clear from the jump, knocking down 11 3-pointers in the opening quarter as they built a 48-24 lead after 12 minutes. 

“We have a coachable group, we have a mature group who want what’s best, not just for them but everybody in the group,” head coach Stephen Silas said post-game. “It’s good to know when we focus on something, whether it’s playing better defense or rebounding … or getting off to a better start like we did tonight, we do it.”

They didn't take their foot off the gas, continuing to let it fly from beyond the arc as they set a new franchise record with 28 triples on 52 attempts (53.8%), just one shy of the NBA's all-time mark. 

DeMarcus Cousins brought up the record with his fifth 3-pointer of the game. He finished the night 5-of-9 from deep as did Eric Gordon, who scored a game-high 25 points off the bench. 

John Wall and Danuel House Jr. both connected on four 3-pointers, while Victor Oladipo had three and Christian Wood and PJ Tucker buried two apiece.

While their impressive improvement on the defensive end deserves plenty of credit for their recent run, the ball movement in Houston has taken their offence to another level. 

As they piled on the 3-pointers, they racked up a whopping 30 assists on 49 made field goals, with Victor Oladipo leading the way with seven and John Wall five. 

After starting the season 3-6, the Rockets have now gone 7-3 in. the 10 games since the Harden trade, establishing a new identity on both ends of the floor. 

Is this here to stay?

The young Grizzlies have arrived

Don't look now but the Grizzlies are now fourth in the Western Conference after extending their win streak to seven games!

Memphis set a franchise record of their own as nine different players scored in double figures in the win, led by 19 points off the bench from Gorgui Dieng. 

Brandon Clarke added 18 points, Kyle Anderson and De'Anthony Melton scored 17 apiece, while Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks had 13 each and Tyus Jones 11, adding 14 assists in the win.

"I have to stay ready no matter what happens," Dieng said. "It's a long season and I cannot be here crying about minutes. I'm a pro and I'm good. I can help this basketball team."

Dieng and Melton were instrumental in the win as the reserves helped outscore the Spurs bench 62-41, including 20 of their first-quarter points and an 18-2 run in the second quarter with Morant on the bench. 

Each of their 10 players who took the floor had at least one assist as they racked up a season-high 37 assists in the win.

Making their run all the more impressive, the Grizzlies are winning minus star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Justice Winslow (hip).

Can they continue their fast start out the season and make the playoffs after just missing out in the bubble?

What's next?

The Rockets will look to extend their win streak to seven games when they face the Thunder again on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies could match their franchise record for consecutive wins (8) with a win over the Indiana Pacers, the final game of their three-game road trip. 

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Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.