The Houston Rockets have been one of the biggest surprises of the season so far, boasting strong veteran play and one of the better young cores in the entire NBA. But on Thursday night, it will face one of its most important games of the season in a bout with the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Dallas Mavericks head to the FedExForum to face the Memphis Grizzlies in a Western Conference matchup. The Mavs are 20-15, which puts them in sixth place. The Grizzlies are faring a bit better, with a 23-13 record that puts them in second place.

The Houston Rockets (24-12) travel to play against the Memphis Grizzlies (24-13) on Thursday at FedExForum, an intriguing game between the No.2 and No.3 teams in the NBA Western Conference standings.

In an important matchup between top-three teams in the West standings, the Rockets are slight favorites at Memphis (+1.5). Ja Morant is questionable.

The Houston Rockets play against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. The Houston Rockets are spending $6,750,940 per win while the Memphis Grizzlies are spending $7,112,679 per w

The Memphis Grizzlies have only had Ja Morant for 20 of their 37 games so far this season. The Grizzlies are 14-6 in those games, which is a 57-win pace. Without Morant, Memphis is 10-7, good for a 48-win-pace.

Imagine a fight between two rocket-powered grizzly bears. Then picture it as a basketball game. Then times it by three. On Thursday night, the Houston Rockets will play their first of three January matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies.