Luis Scola had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who were 28-for-76 (36.8 percent) from the field. They also went 5-for-16 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 49-44.
Rudy Gay scored 20 and Darrell Arthur had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who’ve lost all eight season openers since moving to Memphis in 2001.
Tracy McGrady, wearing a brace on his left shoulder and a wrap below his left knee, had 16 points and five assists, but went 7-for-18 from the field.
Houston won this one with its defense, which ranked fourth in the league in points allowed last season. Memphis shot 38 percent from the field (31-for-81) and went 0-for-13 from 3-point range.
Artest had two steals and a breakaway layup in the first minute of the game and the Rockets raced to an 11-2 lead.
But Artest and McGrady both had two turnovers apiece in the first quarter to help the Grizzlies stay close. Gay scored 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting in the quarter and Houston led only 26-18.
Both teams missed 8 of their first 10 shots in the second quarter. Artest sank a 3-pointer near the 6-minute mark to put the Rockets up 34-26, but the Grizzlies closed the gap to 37-35 on Marc Gasol’s three-point play with 2:49 left in the half.
