The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Houston Rockets at FedEx Forum on Wednesday.

The Rockets (45-26) are quietly one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, as they come into this matchup winning 12 of their last 13 games. That run has climbed Houston all the way up to third in the west, which is a borderline miracle after a terrible start to the season. What's fascinating about this fixture is the fact that it comes in the second half of a back-to-back set, as Houston very well may rest some players here. Players like Chris Paul and James Harden could use a much-needed rest day and a game against a 28-win team may be the perfect opportunity to do just that. Resting players is not in Mike D'Antoni's philosophy though and it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Harden suit up yet again in pursuit of another MVP award.

The Grizzlies (28-42) have actually been much more competitive over recent weeks, as they own a 5-4 record across their last nine games. It's the same recipe as every other year for the Grizzlies, as they thrive on defense and struggle on offense. That's evident by the fact that they rank dead-last in scoring and second in points allowed. That's pretty much what you expect from this club these days but it's simply not enough to win in today's up-tempo NBA. What's funny about Memphis' recent form is the teams that they're beating. The Grizzles last three wins have come against the Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz. Those are all teams battling for playoff positioning and it's clear that the Grizzlies want to play spoiler for the final few weeks.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these teams, with Houston looking for the season sweep. Their streak extends even longer than that, with the Rockets winning five-straight over the Grizzlies dating back to last season.