The tank was on, and the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t even bother hiding it.
In a 132-101 season-ending loss to the Houston Rockets, Memphis rolled out a seven-man rotation, leaned heavily on young players, and effectively waved the white flag from the opening tip. The result? Mission accomplished.
This wasn’t about competing, it was about positioning in the NBA Draft Lottery odds for 2026.
Houston, even while resting key stars, controlled the game throughout, outscoring Memphis in every quarter and cruising to a 31-point win. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies got what they needed out of the night: development reps and, more importantly, another loss to solidify lottery odds.
To their credit, the young core showed flashes. Dariq Whitehead poured in 26 points, while Rayan Rupert and Jahmai Mashack added double-doubles in extended run. But the bigger picture was unavoidable, Memphis has now dropped 21 of its last 23 games to close the season.
That’s not a slump. That’s strategy.
In today’s NBA, tanking isn’t subtle—it’s calculated. And the Grizzlies executed it to perfection down the stretch. Sunday night wasn’t about the scoreboard. It was about the standings.
A 31-point loss never looked so intentional.
The Grizzlies have much work to do this off-season, including the 2026 NBA Draft. Full coverage live on 92.9 FM ESPN.
Season Finale: Houston Rockets 132 Memphis Grizzlies 101
Season Finale: Houston Rockets 132 Memphis Grizzlies 101
