Quick Recap: Grizzlies Fall to Clippers 74-83

Live from Las Vegas, it’s NBA Summer League! If you’re reading this, there’s a 99% chance you love basketball. If you’re in that 99% and can put up with the heat, you gotta make your way to Vegas for Summer League. To be this close to some of the best young players in the Association is pretty dang awesome.

The Memphis Grizzlies looked to avenge their loss Monday and improve to 2-1 in Vegas against the Los Angeles Clippers. Let’s get into the recap.

1st Quarter

Kenneth Lofton Jr. got Memphis on the board by splitting two free throws. Then back-to-back triples by Jake LaRavia and a four-point play from Junior gave Memphis a quick 8-2 lead.

The Clippers answered with a small run. But Junior kept his hot start with back-to-back finishes at the rim to give Memphis a 12-8 lead. That was short lived, though, as LA closed the quarter on a run. The Clips led 26-19 at the end of the 1st quarter.

2nd Quarter

Frankie Ferrari started the quarter with a needed triple as Memphis looked to heat up again. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, they stayed ice cold while the Clippers got hot. The score was 22-33 LA with 6:42 in the quarter.

LA’s 2-3 zone was giving Memphis fits offensively, and they couldn’t find any sort of rhythm. A Tarik Biberovic jumper and a slam from Jake LaRavia cut the Clips’ lead to 8.

Speaking of Jake! To say he blocked LA’s Jordan Bowen would be a major understatement. Jake jumped with Bowen and took the ball from him mid-shot. He then raced down the floor and almost punched one home for the and-one. LaRavia and Junior brought much needed energy and cut the LA lead to just 3.

The best moment so far, though, was definitely some pettiness from Kenny. Junior had a jump ball against LA’s Xavier Moon. A Clippers fan right behind me yelled Xavier could win this tip easy because it’s against Junior. Well, Junior won the tip. Then, he hit a nice mid-range jumper and pointed right in the direction of the Clippers fan. As Michael Jordan said, “I took that personally.”

Grizz showed good fight to close the half. 35-41 Clippers. Kenneth Lofton Jr. finished the half with 13 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds, and 5-5 from the field. Jake LaRavia had 13 points as well.

3rd Quarter

Arlington High’s own Nathan Hoover hit a three to start the half. Then 5 straight points from Junior and a slam from David Roddy gave Memphis a 45-42 lead. Strong play from Kenny and some offensive resurgence from Roddy kept this game at a nip-and-tuck pace. Grizzlies trailed Clippers by 1 after 3, 56-57.

4th Quarter

Once again, Nathan Hoover started the quarter with three points, but this time via three free throws to give Memphis the lead. Roddy followed with a strong finish. Both teams traded buckets in what shaped up to be an entertaining finish. Grizzlies led 68-67 with 5:30 to play.

Two free throws from Junior pushed the lead to three. But LA responded with back to back buckets to take a one point lead with 3:20 left. Jake answered with a craft finish before GG got shook and had a triple hit in his face. Then Xavier Moon hit another three giving LA a 72-77 lead with 1:19 to play.

That’s as close as Memphis got at the end. Clippers pull this one out, 74-83.

Kenny Lofton Jr. was awesome with 24 points, 10 rebounds on 9-12 shooting. Jake LaRavia played well, finishing with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Grizzlies face the Lakers Friday night.