Let's make one thing clear: Ja Morant is an MVP candidate, and his Memphis Grizzlies (44-22) are one of the best teams in the NBA. The young and rebuilt Houston Rockets (16-48) are among the worst in the league. None of this changed on a Sunday basis at Toyota Center.
But for one night, the young backcourts of Houston's Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Greene overtook one of the NBA's best guards during Houston's spectacular 123-112 win (recap) over Morant and the Grizzlies. For the Rockets and their fans, as evidenced by the immediate reaction on social media, the victory offered hope for better days in the future.
Morant had 22 points and 6 assists, but struggled as a shooter, making only 7-of-20 (35.0%). Meanwhile, Porter scored a game-high 29 points on 11 of 21 shootings (52.4%) and was 19 in the third quarter alone as Houston rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit. He also had 5 assists.
Meanwhile, Green added 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He shot 17 of 8 (47.1%) overall, and two of them came up against a tough defense in the closing minutes as Houston worked the game away.
Here's what the highlights, social media reaction to, and postgame talk about by players and head coach Stephen Silas.