Scola Has Double-double, Rockets Beat Memphis

Luis Scola Has 22 Points, 15 Rebounds In Rockets' 104-79 Win Over Grizzlies

(AP)  HOUSTON (AP) - Luis Scola had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Carl Landry scored 20 points in the Houston Rockets' 104-79 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

Trevor Ariza scored 17 points, Kyle Lowry had 10 assists, and rookie Chase Budinger had 15 points for the Rockets, who've won the last seven meetings against Memphis in Houston.

O.J. Mayo scored 19 points, and Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph added 18 apiece for the Grizzlies, who've dropped seven straight games overall.

The Rockets matched a season high with 30 assists, finished with 27 fast-break points and shot 50 percent from the field (44 of 88).

Houston led by five at halftime, then opened the second half with a 16-5 run, forcing turnovers and repeatedly beating the Grizzlies down the floor for easy baskets. Memphis missed seven of its first nine shots in the third quarter before Mayo's three-point play cut it to 59-46.

But the Rockets seemed to chase down every loose ball after the break and took a 74-57 lead to the fourth. Memphis went 7 for 20 from the field in the third quarter and gave up nine fast-break points.

Lowry led another break early in the fourth and flipped a pass to Ariza for an alley-oop dunk, prompting the loudest cheer of the night. Lowry picked up a steal on the Grizzlies' next possession and found Scola for a layup and an 82-62 lead. Budinger converted another alley-oop pass from Lowry into a dunk later in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets led only 20-17 after a sluggish first quarter for both teams.

Houston had chances to build a wider margin early, but missed 12 of its first 16 shots from 3-point range. The Grizzlies also stayed close by outrebounding the Rockets 26-19 in the first half.

Both teams came in the game wondering when their respective All-Star guards would be back in uniform.

Allen Iverson missed hit third straight game after leaving the team over the weekend for "personal reasons." Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said he had "nothing new to report" on Iverson's status or immediate future with the team.

Meanwhile, Houston's Tracy McGrady was on the bench in street clothes after setting Nov. 18 as a "target" date for his return from knee surgery. The Rockets have said that there is no firm timetable for McGrady's return from offseason knee surgery.

NOTES: Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said C Hasheem Thabeet could possibly return for Saturday's game against Minnesota after fracturing his lower jaw in Tuesday's loss to Portland. Doctors repaired the ridgeline fracture in Memphis on Wednesday, and Hollins said Thabeet may not even wear a protective mouth guard when he returns. ... Houston coach Rick Adelman earned his 865th career victory, breaking a tie with former mentor Jack Ramsey for 11th all-time. ... Retired Rockets C Dikembe Mutombo walked into the arena midway through the third quarter and sat down in a front-row seat next to team owner Les Alexander. Landry swatted a shot in the fourth quarter, then wagged his right index finger in the air - Mutombo's signature gesture when he blocked a shot in his playing days.