In what's becoming a familiar story for Memphis fans, the Grizzlies pulled off yet another win against the Utah Jazz with Luke Kennard and Ja Morant leading the charge towards a 122-115 victory on Wednesday night. Local Memphis reports that Kennard was exceptional, going 7 for 9 from beyond the arc and racking up a total of 30 points, while Morant added 28 points, throwing in his own clutch 3-pointers.
With the game hanging in the balance, Kennard knocked down a crucial 3-point shot after the Jazz had taken a narrow lead, returning the advantage to the Grizzlies with just over a minute left on the clock. Morant then sealed the deal with a 3-pointer, making it 120-115 with just 12 seconds to spare, "Kennard responded with a 3 for the Grizzlies", as described by Action News 5. The endgame heroics were part of a greater story that saw Desmond Bane contribute 17 points contributing to Memphis's fourth straight win.
On the other side, the Jazz's losing streak extended to seven games despite efforts from Collin Sexton, who amassed 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Similarly, John Collins also pitched in with 22 points for Utah. Interestingly, the game was officiated by a two-man crew in the second half as referee Scott Twardoski was sidelined by an unspecified injury, leaving Ed Malloy and Brandon Schwab to handle the court proceedings on their own, according to Local Memphis.
The Raptors, meanwhile, have been making headlines of their own, netting their fifth win in six games. They secured a 118-105 victory over the 76ers, despite both teams facing roster challenges due to injuries and illness, LMTonline reported. AJ Lawson led with 28 points for Toronto, while Jared Rhoden and Orlando Robinson both boasted career nights, the former with 25 points and 12 rebounds and Robinson with a career-high 25 points to match his 12 rebounds.
Philadelphia, missing a cohort of key players such as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George struggled to overcome the Raptors' surge. With the 76ers slipping for the fifth time in seven games, Quentin Grimes put up 29 points, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. had a career-high 20 points against his former team. Even with Drummond's return from illness, Philadelphia's depleted lineup proved insufficient to stave off another loss, LMTonline details.
