Quick Recap: Kennard, Grizzlies shoot lights out

The Memphis Grizzlies welcomed the Houston Rockets to the Fed Ex Forum for the second game in a row. After a close victory over Houston on Wednesday night, the Grizzlies were hoping to have a bit easier time earning a victory on Friday. Memphis welcomed back Dillon Brooks as well, so the hope was a good defensive showing early and often.

First Quarter

The Rockets found some success early, getting out to a 5-0 lead. But the Grizzlies quickly found their groove, as Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. each got two early buckets to make the score 11-7 at the 8:30 mark of the first quarter. Over the next few minutes the Rockets and Grizzlies would keep it close, but Jackson Jr. and Bane combined for 17 points through the first quarter to help the lead. Finally, as Ja Morant and Luke Kennard entered the game, Memphis was able to take a 10-point lead after two quick Kennard threes.

Memphis would continue to find plenty of offensive success, both through the starters and the bench. Bane and Jackson Jr. ended the first quarter both with 10+ points each, and the Grizzlies were up 42-30.

Second Quarter

The Grizzlies continued to excel as the second quarter started. Both Bane and Morant were able to get multiple buckets and the Grizzlies extended the lead to 21 at 8:30 mark of the second quarter. This pace would continue for much of the quarter. Bane continued to light it up from everywhere, arriving at 20 points for the game before the midway point of the 2nd quarter. Morant add a double digit scoring effort in the quarter himself, and scored 16 as a total in the first half.

The fluffy of offensive firepower continued as the threes continued to fall. Luke Kennard added two more threes to total four in the first half. Dillon Brooks and Jackson Jr. connected with the highlight play of the first half, and the Grizzlies ended with a history performance, ending the first half with an 83-52 lead.

For the Grizzlies, it was the second most points and second highest amount of threes in a single half in franchise history. Bane finished with 23 points, Morant 16, Jackson Jr. 14, and kennard 12 points.

It was an absolute offensive clinic.

Third Quarter

The third quarter started off much like the first quarter did, as Houston started to find some success scoring the ball. But then the Grizzlies absolutely caught fire. Lead by Brooks, Bane, and Jackson Jr. early, the Grizzlies were able to start to gaining back the halftime lead.

And then Luke Kennard took over.

Kennard nailed five threes and helped the Grizzlies extend the lead to 35 while also tying the Grizzlies single-game franchise record for a player with nine threes. The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter up 119-84.

Fourth Quarter

History awaited Memphis in the final quarter. First, Kennard set the new franchise record for threes in the game with ten. After the record was set, the Grizzlies sent the reserves on the court. The Grizzlies would go on to set a new franchise record for threes in a game as a team with 24. The final score was 151-114, with plenty of history set in the process.

The Grizzlies scored the second highest amount of points in a game in franchise history, and set a new mark from beyond the arc. Kennard led all scorers with 30 points on one of the greatest shooting nights in NBA history, while Desmond Bane only needed two second-half points to end up with 25 for the game. Both Morant and Jackson Jr. added 18 points.

Memphis made it a point to dominate early and often this evening, and the results quickly followed. In the end, the Grizzlies put together one of their best offensive performances ever. Along with the history, Kennard’s historic night is certainly more proof he could be a truly needed addition during the postseason.